America has continued its military presence off Venezuela after abducting Nicolas Maduro
US military operations in the Caribbean, including the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, have cost American taxpayers nearly $3 billion and counting, according to Bloomberg.
The US Navy has maintained a presence off Venezuela on the pretext of a power transition after President Donald Trump ordered the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in early January. Both are currently in US custody in New York, facing federal charges of narcoterrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses, which they deny.
The US military – which has been deployed across the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific since August in what was initially called a counternarcotics mission – has enforced a partial blockade to ensure compliance from Venezuela’s remaining authorities. Trump has openly said the US will “run the country” until a “judicious transition” of power is completed.
The White House claimed that the Venezuela operation did not cost taxpayers extra because the forces involved were already deployed, but Bloomberg calculations based on the Navy’s daily expenses show operational costs for dozens of ships, fighter jets, drones, and logistics vessels peaked at more than $20 million a day from mid-November to mid-January, reportedly pushing the total to over $2.9 billion since deployment began.
The USS Ford strike group alone costs around $11.4 million a day, with logistics, intelligence, cyber support, and operational rehearsals.
Most baseline expenses are covered by existing defense funding, but with the addition of combat operations, projections for the year are expected to be exceeded, the outlet said.
Venezuela holds an estimated 303 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves – around 17% of the global total and the world’s largest. The US has already brokered a 50-million-barrel deal with Venezuela’s interim authorities and is using its military presence to ensure revenue is managed on Washington’s terms.
Trump’s recent statements suggest the continued presence also serves as a warning to other regional actors. Beyond Venezuela, he has issued threats to Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, and Panama, citing drugs, migration, and strategic control. He has not ruled out future land operations.
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Washington’s actions against Venezuela have drawn widespread international condemnation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said America’s objective is “to dominate the world economy” and “take control of all the routes for providing the world’s leading countries and all continents with energy resources.”
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