# Caribbean Military Campaign Against Venezuela & Capture of Maduro

> Beginning September 2, 2025, the U.S. conducted dozens of military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Donald Trump · Foreign Policy · Military Action · Sep 2, 2025
Official record: https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-US-Strikes-on-Venezuelan-Vessels

## What happened

Beginning September 2, 2025, the U.S. conducted dozens of military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. In January 2026, U.S. commandos captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to face U.S. drug charges.

## How it happened

Presidential authorization of maritime strikes and covert CIA operations, escalating to a special-forces operation in Caracas.

## Documented impact

- [positive / contested] Administration framed it as a counter-narcotics and national-security campaign. — Officials said the strikes targeted drug traffickers and that removing Maduro served U.S. interests.
- [negative / substantiated] Strikes killed ~115 people with disputed legality. — By the end of 2025, ~35 strikes had killed ~115 people; legal experts and some lawmakers questioned extrajudicial killings in international waters without due process or congressional authorization.

## Sources

- [Britannica: 2025 U.S. strikes on Venezuelan vessels](https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-US-Strikes-on-Venezuelan-Vessels)
- [CNN: Venezuela boat strike controversy](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/politics/trump-venezuelan-dilemma-boat-strike-maduro)

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Canonical: https://eo.alanwizemann.com/eo/trump/caribbean-military-campaign-against-venezuela-and-capture-of-maduro