Venezuela is once again in the headlines. President Nicolas Maduro has announced that he will deploy more than 4.5 million militias across the country. This step has been taken in response to the recent US action, in which US warships and thousands of soldiers have been sent near Venezuela’s maritime areas.
Now the question is, what is happening in Venezuela? Why is the US so active? And what will be its impact on the general public? Let’s understand this in simple language.
What is the reason for the tension?
Recently, the US accused Maduro of being the leader of a large drug mafia network called “Cartel of the Sun”. Washington has even increased the reward for Maduro’s arrest to $50 million.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump ordered that three US destroyers, submarines, reconnaissance aircraft, and about 4,000 soldiers be sent to the Caribbean. Officially, its purpose is stated to be to stop drug trafficking.
But for Venezuela, this is like a direct threat. Maduro called these allegations of America false and said that the real drug cartel is the US DEA agency, while his government has been taking strict action against drugs since 2005.
Maduro’s response
In a TV address, Maduro said that “the militias are ready, active and armed.” He also announced the formation of a militia of farmers and workers, so that the country can be protected from every factory and farm.
Some of his statements were direct:
- “Missiles and rifles for the working class, so that the motherland can be protected.”
- “No empire will be able to touch the sacred land of Venezuela.“
It is worth noting that this militia is not a new force. It was started by Hugo Chavez in 2007. It is based on civilians, farmers, workers, and students- who are trained and armed to defend the country if necessary, as opposed to the military.
Why is the US concerned?
The US has long taken a tough stance on Venezuelan politics. Washington does not recognize Maduro as a legitimate president, and diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 2019.
The US says the military deployment is to prevent drugs from reaching its borders. Venezuela sees it as “imperialist intervention.”
Is Venezuela rich or poor?
This question is often asked. Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves. It was once the richest country in Latin America. But its economy has collapsed in the past several years due to corruption, political instability, and US sanctions.
Today, Venezuela is commonly described as a country “rich in natural resources, but poor in economic conditions.”
How much is $1 worth in Venezuela?
The currency crisis has caused the value of the country’s currency, the Bolivar, to go down drastically. In 2025, the situation is such that 1 US dollar could be worth millions of Bolivars. This is why people use the US dollar for everyday transactions.
What is Venezuela famous for?
Whatever the situation, Venezuela is known in the world for many reasons:
- Oil reserves – It has the world’s largest oil reserves.
- Natural beauty – Angel Falls (the world’s tallest waterfall), the Orinoco River, and beautiful beaches.
- Sports and music – especially baseball and folk music.
- Political conflict – In recent years, its identity has also been linked to a political crisis.
At present, the situation is mostly limited to rhetoric and a show of strength. The US is talking about stopping drug trafficking, while Venezuela is claiming to protect its sovereignty.
But the US warships reaching Venezuela’s border and Maduro’s activating the militia, both steps are serious. There is a fear of increasing regional tensions due to this.
Countries like Cuba have also accused the US of disturbing the peace of the Caribbean. At the same time, regional organizations like CELAC are reminding that the Caribbean is considered a “zone of peace“.
The Venezuelan crisis is not new, but this time the situation seems more serious. The daily problems for the common people – inflation, shortage of goods, low wages – remain the same. On top of this, the fear of a possible conflict is also increasing.
In the coming weeks, it will have to be seen whether the matter remains limited to mere rhetoric or moves towards a conflict.
What do you think – are Venezuela and the US moving towards a confrontation, or will this matter remain only a political game?
My name is Farhad Dawar and I am graduate of the Institute of Media and Communication Studies Bahaddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan. I’m passionate about journalism and media, and I believe in journalism of courage, uncovering the truth, and shaping the future.
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
