2025 U.S. - Venezuela conflict

[Altair]

Do something about it.

See, this is why I like you.

QV tried to make it about Maduro, drugs, the people.

You, fuck it, America does what it wants.

I like the honesty. Reprehensible, absolutely, but honest none the less.

 

[ArmyRick]

We stand that Maduro is a POS, but we believe in international law. Simple.

Sooooo, don't actually get a fucking thing done? Nope.

Chretien was proven right.

On WMD? Yup
On removing a tyrant from power? Fuck no.
The biggest mistake the USA made was leaving Iraq too early in the first place and leaving a vacuum that allowed ISIS to creep in.

On Iraq, I was serving with an Iraqi born soldier (serving in the CAF) during that invasion. He told me his family was delighted as hell that Saddam got his ass kicked (there is a reason they immigrated to Canada and it wasn't the weather). He did tell me at the time, in his personal opinion, that Iraq needed to be broken up as a nation as the factions would never get along (especially Sunni and Shia), Take his comments for what they are worth.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Maybe not; Trump just said the US is going to be very involved in Venezualan oil, so the entire drug cartel angle may have been a convenient smoke screen to seize and plunder their oil reserves.

Also terrible news for Alberta and their hopes for a pipeline to the US if that happens, as now means US refineries would have access to cheap Venezuala heavy crude with US military backing and wouldn't need to mess around with Canada.

The US position has been pretty clear for at least two decades

The U.S. position on Venezuela's nationalization of oil is historically one of opposition, viewing it as theft of American assets, leading to sanctions and escalating tensions, with recent Trump administration rhetoric demanding return of these assets and threatening blockades, while U.S. companies remain hesitant to reinvest, highlighting geopolitical conflict over resource control and unresolved legal disputes over expropriated property.
Historical Context
Expropriation: In the early 2000s, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez nationalized oil projects, forcing U.S. companies (like Chevron, Exxon, ConocoPhillips) to cede majority stakes, leading to seizure of assets from those who resisted.
U.S. Sanctions: The U.S. first imposed sanctions in 2005 in response to these nationalizations, targeting individuals and entities involved in seizing American assets.

History of the Venezuelan oil industry - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ytz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007469183781470363

Venezuelan Airforce is now flying.

Wonder if they fled with the jets like the Iraqis.

 

[ArmyRick]

How do Venezuelans feel about this? Anyone? Anyone?

 

[lenaitch]

Anything can be justified, particularly when the other parts of government sit on their hands.

Just heard: 'I didn't tell Congress. Congress is full of leakers'

 

[Altair]

Sooooo, don't actually get a fucking thing done? Nope.

We support international law, because Russia invading Ukraine is against international law, China invading Taiwan is agaisnt international law. It's us being consistent.

On WMD? Yup
On removing a tyrant from power? Fuck no.
The biggest mistake the USA made was leaving Iraq too early in the first place and leaving a vacuum that allowed ISIS to creep in.

On Iraq, I was serving with an Iraqi born soldier (serving in the CAF) during that invasion. He told me his family was delighted as hell that Saddam got his ass kicked (there is a reason they immigrated to Canada and it wasn't the weather). He did tell me at the time, in his personal opinion, that Iraq needed to be broken up as a nation as the factions would never get along (especially Sunni and Shia), Take his comments for what they are worth.

Why did the USA invade Iraq? WMDs WMDs WMDs. It was a war based on a lie either way you slice it, people died for a decade based on a lie. If the USA was going in saying Saddam is bad man, that's another thing, but that's not what the USA did.

 

[ArmyRick]

And what have other American presidents thought of Venezuela?
"Obama issued a presidential order on 9 March 2015 declaring Venezuela a "threat to [U.S.] national security", and ordered the Treasury Department to freeze property and assets of seven Venezuelan officials it held responsible for human rights abuses, repression and at least 43 deaths during demonstrations."

 

[ytz]

This is a mistake. He should STFU.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007461129308565875

To be fair, the international community believes and supports Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimately elected President. So in that context, the US did not decapitate a legitimate government. The international community has to decide is Maduro a international criminal or not?

2024 Venezuelan presidential election - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And yet Trump just said at his presser that Rubio is working with Maduro's VP. Funny that.

And he even reiterated that they haven't talked to the Opposition Leader in exile. And doesn't think she has the support. Me thinks her getting the Nobel Prize means Trump will ensure she never rules Venezuela.

Poor judgement from Poilievre to not understand all this. Or act like he doesn't.

 

[Altair]

How do Venezuelans feel about this? Anyone? Anyone?

Probably great until they heard that their new president is Trump.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

More to the point. I wonder how one can argue that Putin is wrong to attack Ukraine and the US is right to attack Venezuela. The thing with spheres of influence is that the same doctrine can be argued Russia and China too. This is indeed the Putin worldview. It's odd to hear Canadians argue for this too. The Putin doctrine basically says countries like ours are irrelevant and can be carved up. Just like Ukraine. Might makes right.

The US is not arguing that Venezuela is historically part of the US, which is the main part of Putin claim on Ukraine.

 

[Altair]

The US is not arguing that Venezuela is historically part of the US, which is the main part of Putin claim on Ukraine.

The rational, a lie, but the official rational was that Ukraine was a threat to the Russian federation. Also, something about genocide against ethnic russians.

 

[ArmyRick]

Why did the USA invade Iraq?

To remove Saddam from power. Hell, not even Bush believed his own lies. After it was done, no one said but I think we can say it was pretty agreed it was never about WMD.

We support international law, because Russia invading Ukraine is against international law

Well then, go grab a protest sign and stand outside the American Embassy. Want evil gone? Do something about it.

How many times has the USA acted unilaterally? Its a long list.

 

[Furniture]

All meaningless nonsense - laws, policies, resolutions, etc, if you don't have the means of enforcing them. Maybe the international community should do something about it instead of calling for emergency meetings or convening/drafting letters. Oh look, twitter posts will help!

So might makes right is what we should aspire to?

It remains to be seen what the international community will do, but I expect American defence industries to suffer more cancelations as countries "convene" about what to do.

 

[ytz]

The US is not arguing that Venezuela is historically part of the US, which is the main part of Putin claim on Ukraine.

Trump and Rubio are on TV right now basically arguing for the US Sphere of Influence. They also literally laid this out in their National Security Strategy. They aren't even trying to split hairs and make excuses like you are.

 

[Altair]

Trump: It wont cost us anything, the money coming out of the ground is very substantial.

Lol

 

[ArmyRick]

Probably great until they heard that their new president is Trump.

The Venezuelans I know living here would take Trump anyday over Maduro and twice on Sunday

 

[Altair]

To remove Saddam from power. Hell, not even Bush believed his own lies. After it was done, no one said but I think we can say it was pretty agreed it was never about WMD.

Well then, go grab a protest sign and stand outside the American Embassy. Want evil gone? Do something about it.

How many times has the USA acted unilaterally? Its a long list.

The USA has done bad things in the past...so them doing bad things now is cool...

hahahaha

 

[ArmyRick]

The USA has done bad things in the past...so them doing bad things now is cool...

hahahaha

Thats all you got? Normally you are more witty than that. Ohh well, its morning.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

And yet Trump just said at his presser that Rubio is working with Maduro's VP. Funny that.

And he even reiterated that they haven't talked to the Opposition Leader in exile. And doesn't think she has the support. Me thinks her getting the Nobel Prize means Trump will ensure she never rules Venezuela.

Sounds like Rubio has been given the task to ensure some sort of power transition


As of January 3, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly "working on dealing with" Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez following the U.S. military capture of Nicolás Maduro.
According to recent reports:

• Negotiations: President Trump stated that Rubio is leading discussions with Rodríguez, who is next in the line of succession to lead Venezuela.
• Potential Power Transfer: Before Maduro's capture, a proposal had been floated for Maduro to step down and hand power to Rodríguez to complete his term.
• Current Status: Rodríguez remains in Caracas and has publicly demanded "proof of life" for Maduro while activating national defenses.
• U.S. Stance: While Rubio is engaging with Rodríguez, he has maintained that Maduro’s government is illegitimate and that the U.S. intends to "run the country" until a safe transition of power is achieved

Although the international community is not thrilled with her either:
Sanctions
Rodríguez has been sanctioned by several countries and was banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintained a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a "close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime".[47][48]

In September 2017, Canada sanctioned Rodríguez for her role in Venezuela's constitutional crisis.[7]

In June 2018, shortly after being named Vice President of Venezuela, Rodríguez was one of eleven officials sanctioned by the European Union, with her assets frozen and a travel ban issued against her for "undermin[ing] democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela."[8][49]

In April 2018, the Mexican Senate approved a Point of Agreement that, among other things, rejected the presidential elections scheduled for 20 May. The Senate froze the assets of officials of the Maduro administration, including Rodríguez, and prohibited them from entering Mexico.[50][51][52]

In July 2018, Switzerland sanctioned Rodríguez, freezing her assets and imposing a travel ban, citing the same reasons as the European Union.[53][54][55]

In September 2018, the United States sanctioned Rodríguez for "corruption and humanitarian issues" by including her in OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.[9]