US President Donald Trump has signaled a sharp escalation in the Venezuela standoff, indicating that American military action could soon expand beyond naval operations to direct land-based strikes. The warning comes as the United States continues to intensify its presence in the Caribbean, deploying more than a dozen warships and around 15,000 troops to the region.
The latest signal marks the strongest suggestion yet that Washington is preparing for a broader offensive — a move that has sparked global concern and fueled accusations from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who claims the U.S. is seeking control of his country’s vast oil resources. Maduro said this weekend that America “wants the reserves that belong to the Venezuelan people.”
The U.S. State Department, however, has rejected those claims, insisting that oil is not the motive behind the rising military pressure or Trump’s warnings that planes should avoid Venezuelan airspace ahead of possible strikes. Washington maintains that the military buildup is aimed at stopping flows of undocumented migrants and illegal drugs entering the United States.
Still, analysts say that oil will inevitably shape Venezuela’s future if regime change occurs. The country holds 303 billion barrels of crude, the world’s largest proven reserves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Despite being an oil giant on paper, Venezuela currently produces only about 1 million barrels per day — far below historic levels — due to sanctions, economic collapse, and decaying infrastructure.
Much of Venezuela’s oil is heavy, sour crude that requires specialised equipment and expertise to refine. International companies capable of processing it have largely been restricted from operating in the country due to sanctions. The deterioration of pipelines, refineries, and production assets has further crippled output.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuela since 2005, with restrictions tightening under later administrations. In 2019, the Trump administration effectively halted all Venezuelan crude exports to the U.S., while a limited operational license granted to Chevron under Joe Biden was revoked and then reinstated by Trump on the condition that profits not reach Maduro’s government.
Despite being the world’s largest oil producer, the U.S. still imports heavy crude — the type Venezuela specialises in — to support industries that rely on diesel, asphalt, and other refined products. As of September, the U.S. imported around 102,000 barrels per day from Venezuela, far less than historic levels but still strategically relevant.
With Trump now openly suggesting that land targets may soon be hit, the geopolitical stakes have surged. Whether the escalation is driven by national security concerns or indirectly linked to the global importance of Venezuelan crude, the next phase of U.S.–Venezuela relations appears likely to unfold not just at sea — but possibly on Venezuelan soil.
