Venezuela’s Oil and US-led Regime Change
By Sachs & Sybil Fares*
This article was originally published on Common Dreams with the authors’ permission.
US Strategy Against Venezuela
NEW YORK | 5 November 2025 (IDN) — While the current justification centers on combating narcotics, the true aim is to topple Venezuela’s sovereign government, causing immense suffering to its people. This tactic is familiar: the United States is reviving its traditional regime-change strategy in Venezuela.
Though the narrative has shifted from “restoring democracy” to “fighting narco-terrorists,” the goal remains unchanged—control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Methods and Military Presence
The U.S. employs well-known tactics: economic sanctions that asphyxiate Venezuela’s economy, threats of military force, and an unprecedented $50 million bounty on President Nicolás Maduro, reminiscent of lawlessness.
With the Pentagon’s proposed $1.01 trillion budget and more than 750 military bases scattered across around 80 countries, America is far from a nation seeking peace.
Historical Context and Motive
For over 20 years, Venezuela has endured persistent U.S. attempts to instigate regime change. The driving force, clearly stated by President Donald Trump, is Venezuela’s approximately 300 billion barrels of oil stored in the Orinoco belt—some of the world’s largest petroleum reserves.
“When I left, Venezuela was ready to collapse.” — President Donald Trump, 2023
Author’s Summary
The U.S. continues to pursue regime change in Venezuela under shifting pretenses, motivated primarily by control over the nation's enormous oil reserves, at great human cost.