The U.S. operation in Venezuela directly advances the Trump administration’s national security doctrine as outlined in the December 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS). The NSS prioritizes American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and introduces the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. This framework denies non-hemispheric competitors, particularly China, Russia, and Iran, access to strategic assets. It emphasizes energy dominance while countering migration, drugs, organized crime, and foreign malign influence. The strategy supports selective, interest-driven interventionism focused on tangible U.S. benefits. As analyzed in “How the 2025 National Security Strategy Is Quietly Reshaping Counterintelligence” (December 19, 2025), it signals unilateral action with speed and strategic autonomy, now operationalized in Venezuela.
Operation Absolute Resolve
On January 3, U.S. forces conducted Operation Absolute Resolve. Precision airstrikes and special forces raids captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Now facing federal charges in New York (Maduro indictment), administration officials argue that Maduro’s removal opens the way for political transition and resource exploitation opportunities. In his address to the nation on January 3, President Trump indicated that the United States will “run” Venezuela until a “proper transition can take place.” As part of this interim oversight, Venezuela’s vast oil reserves (according to OPEC’s estimates, the world’s largest at over 300 billion barrels) will be expanded, with Trump stating “”We’re going to have our very large U.S. oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country.”
Donroe Doctrine
To many, the operation seems to echo historical U.S. unilateralism in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 defined the region as a U.S. sphere. The Roosevelt Corollary of 1904 justified stability interventions that underpinned the Banana Wars from 1898 to 1934, protecting corporate commodity interests. Parallels include resource security and efforts to exclude rivals. Modern capabilities may allow swift results without extended occupations.
President Trump himself reinforced these historical echoes in his January 3 press conference, calling the original Monroe Doctrine “a big deal” but declaring that it has been superseded “by a real lot.” He casually rebranded the updated approach as the “Donroe Doctrine” (combining “Donald” and “Monroe”), stating: “They now call it the Donroe Doctrine.” This personal twist builds on the formal “Trump Corollary” introduced in the December 2025 National Security Strategy, signaling a more assertive hemispheric policy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his January 4 interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s This Week, described the action as a targeted law enforcement operation and oil quarantine to protect U.S. interests, emphasizing leverage through court-ordered seizures of sanctioned vessels.
United States adversaries stand to suffer setbacks. Secretary Rubio highlighted that the prior regime had turned Venezuela into a “playground” for Iran and Hizballah and a “crossroads for many of our adversaries.” Iran may see sanctions-evasion networks and operational bases disrupted. He noted that non-Russian, non-Chinese companies will now be interested in opportunities, while the oil quarantine is “crippling” for malign activities. China risks losing loans-for-oil deals and regional influence. Russia could forfeit military footholds and energy stakes. Initial condemnations suggest limited response options.
Critics, in congress have condemned it as illegal without congressional authorization and a violation of international law. Latin American leaders such as Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have said it recalls the worst moments of interference in Latin American and Caribbean politics.
Security Considerations
The administration’s emphasis on interim U.S. oversight of Venezuela, coupled with plans for rapid energy sector revitalization, places civilian personnel from energy conglomerates and related contractors in a particularly exposed position even before any formal direct ground involvement, should such occur. While current policy stresses remote direction and offshore military quarantine, the push to restart oil production could require early on-site assessments and operations. Maduro’s sudden removal has likely fragmented loyalist groups like Colectivos militias and associated criminal networks, potentially triggering asymmetric responses against perceived U.S.-linked targets. These could include targeted attacks, kidnappings for ransom or leverage, or sabotage against infrastructure, especially in the Orinoco Belt.
Historical regime transitions suggest risks might spike early on. Caracas and key oil areas could see sporadic unrest, ambushes, or surges in opportunistic crime. Personnel would be wise to anticipate robust protective measures: personal security details, armored transport, strict movement restrictions, and low-profile operations. Close liaison with emerging transitional authorities and comprehensive hostile-environment training could prove critical. While threats might subside as stability takes hold, the initial 6 to 18 months could demand heightened personal vigilance for those supporting energy restoration.
Venezuela – Trump Administration Perspective
Operation Absolute Resolve represents a concrete application of the Trump doctrine’s emphasis on unilateral action in pursuit of U.S. interests. Whether it yields lasting strategic benefits or creates new challenges will depend on the effectiveness of stabilization efforts, the success of any governance transition, and the security of American personnel deployed in-country.
Short-term, the administration views the operation as enhancing U.S. energy security, disrupting adversaries, and demonstrating advanced rapid-strike capabilities. Officials believe it could contribute to stabilizing global markets amid ongoing tensions.
Long-term, the administration sees the action as strengthening U.S. leadership in great-power competition through secured access to critical resources and reinforced hemispheric priorities. For energy and contracting communities, it presents significant commercial opportunities, consistent with the administration’s stated strategy.
