Is the US About to Attempt Regime Change in Venezuela?

The view from Caracas, with Phil Gunson of the International Crisis Group

Screengrab of a video shared by the White House and President Trump stating that a US military strike was conducted against ‘violent drug cartels’ that pose a threat to the United States, via Al Jazeera

Rhetoric and actions from the Trump administration suggest that the United States is seeking to forcibly oust Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela.

Consider that over the last few days:

• President Trump confirmed a New York Times report that the CIA has been authorized to conduct covert operations in Venezuela.

• There has been a big expansion of military exercises by U.S. special forces near the coast of Venezuela, reported today by the The Washington Post

• The U.S. continues to bomb boats alleged to belong to Venezuelan drug smugglers, with Trump suggesting that land strikes might be next.

• Admiral Alvin Holsey, the head of U.S. Southern Command and a 37-year career officer, abruptly announced his upcoming resignation amid speculation that he clashed with Defense Secretary Hegseth over US policy and strategy.

• Democrats are forcing another vote to limit Trump’s war powers in the Caribbean, but a similar one failed last week mostly along partisan lines.

All of this comes amid an unprecedented buildup of American military forces in the region. There are about 10,000 U.S. troops, mostly in Puerto Rico, about 2,200 Marines on amphibious assault ships, at least one submarine and several naval vessels in the region.

Is the U.S. really going to attempt regime change in Venezuela, and what would that even look like? Joining me from Caracas is Phil Gunson, Senior Analyst for the Andes Region at the International Crisis Group. We kick off discussing the mood in Caracas right now amid this increasingly threatening American posture before having a longer conversation about whether the U.S. is indeed seeking regime change, what that might entail, and the profound risks of American intervention in Venezuela.

A free audio-only podcast version of our conversation is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your shows.