Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, making it a strategic prize for any global power. For the United States, having a pro-American government in Caracas would secure access to these resources, counterbalance China’s growing influence, and strengthen its leverage in global energy markets. A government aligned with China, by contrast, could shift trade patterns, expand Beijing’s footprint in the Western Hemisphere, and limit U.S. options in oil supply.
Unlike past interventions framed around “freedom” or democracy, Washington is now using a more familiar playbook — reminiscent of Panama — targeting Venezuela’s leadership by labeling it a drug trafficking regime. The approach underscores that the goal is less ideological and more strategic: to ensure a government in Caracas that serves U.S. energy and geopolitical interests, rather than one aligned with a rising global competitor.
With over 300 billion barrels of reserves, Venezuela’s oil alone provides sufficient motivation for such intervention, demonstrating that control over energy resources remains central to regional and global power dynamics.