From the double reward to the 1st attack: understand the escalation of tensions between the USA and Venezuela in recent months

Donald Trump announces first US ground attack on Venezuela The President of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed this Monday (29) that American forces carried out the first attack on Venezuelan territory since the beginning of the pressure campaign against the government of Nicolás Maduro. The episode represents another step in the escalation of tensions between the two countries. ✅ Follow g1’s international news channel on WhatsApp ▶️ Context: The current escalation began in August, when the US government doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction to US$50 million. Shortly afterwards, the United States began to reinforce its military presence in the Caribbean. The Venezuelan president is accused by the American government of leading the so-called Cartel de los Soles. The group was recently classified by the US as an international terrorist organization linked to drug trafficking. With this classification, American authorities began to assert that members of the Venezuelan regime could be considered legitimate targets in military operations against drug cartels. 💥 Ground attack: The operation confirmed by Trump this Monday took place on December 24th. According to the president, American forces destroyed a port area used by drug traffickers along the coast of Venezuela. Trump mentioned the operation for the first time on Friday (26), in an interview with a radio station, but without mentioning that the attack had taken place on Venezuelan soil. This Monday, he gave few details about the action, stating only that it took place on the country’s coast. Trump also declined to comment on whether the operation was conducted by the Armed Forces or the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Pentagon did not release information about the attack, and the Venezuelan government did not comment on the statements made by the president of the United States. In recent months, Trump had already said that the US could carry out attacks against drug trafficking infrastructure in Venezuelan territory, as part of the campaign against cartels in the region. On the other hand, throughout this period, the Venezuelan government has classified Trump’s actions as imperialist and claims that the US is trying to take control of the country’s oil and overthrow the government of Nicolás Maduro. See below the main milestones in the escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela in the last four months. 🗓️ August Trump and Maduro AP Photo/Evan Vucci; Reuters/Leonardo Fernandez The United States has doubled the reward to US$50 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Nicolás Maduro. Shortly afterwards, warships and a nuclear submarine were sent to the Caribbean Sea, marking the beginning of military build-up in the region. On August 19, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that the Trump administration would use “full force” against the Venezuelan regime. “Maduro is not a legitimate president. He is a fugitive and head of a narco-terrorist cartel accused in the US of drug trafficking. Trump is prepared to use all American force to stop drug trafficking,” he said. 🗓️ September The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, during a press conference on September 1, 2025 REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria On the 2nd, the United States carried out the first attack against a boat allegedly loaded with drugs in the Caribbean Sea. From this episode onwards, actions in the open sea became frequent and also began to occur in the Pacific Ocean. At the end of the month, the Venezuelan government declared a state of exception, granting special powers to President Nicolás Maduro in the event of “aggression” by the United States. 🗓️ October Donald Trump in a speech at the White House, on October 15, 2025 ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP Trump announced that he had authorized CIA operations in Venezuela related to the campaign against drug trafficking and admitted the possibility of ground attacks. Weeks later, he stated that there were targets located in Venezuelan territory. In the same period, the American press began reporting that the ultimate objective of the US operation in the Caribbean would be to overthrow the Maduro government, based on reports from American officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. On October 15, three B-52 bombers flew in a region very close to Venezuela. The aircraft flew over the so-called “FIR” — an acronym in English for Flight Information Region. 🗓️ November Aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, lead ship of the USS Gerald Ford strike group of the United States Navy. Alyssa Joy/United States Navy At the beginning of the month, the USS Gerald Ford, considered the largest aircraft carrier in the world, arrived in the Caribbean Sea. The vessel has the capacity to transport up to 90 aircraft, including fighters and helicopters. Still in November, Trump and Maduro spoke by phone, but without progress. According to the American press, the Venezuelan president resisted leaving power. Days after the call, the United States government officially included the Cartel de los Soles on the list of terrorist organizations. The group is identified by American authorities as headed by Maduro. 🗓️ December USA intercepts 2nd oil tanker and increases pressure on Maduro Reproduction On the 10th, the United States seized a vessel transporting Venezuelan oil in the Caribbean. Six days later, Trump stated that Venezuela was surrounded and announced a total blockade of oil tankers targeted by sanctions. On December 18, at least five US F-18 fighter jets flew over an area near Caracas. Two of them ended up being less than 100 kilometers from the Venezuelan capital. The tracking also indicated the presence of two other military aircraft in the region. This Monday, the same day that Trump confirmed the attack on Venezuelan soil, the War Department announced the 30th bombing of boats suspected of transporting drugs. In total, so far, the North American operation has hit 31 vessels and left 107 people dead, according to data released by the US government. VIDEOS: trending on g1 See videos that are trending on g1

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