08. January 2026
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Why the Trump Strike on Venezuela May Have Been as Much About Cuba as Oil
The U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro has raised questions about its underlying strategic motives, with some analysts and commentators suggesting that Cuba’s fate may be woven into the broader picture.
Quick Insight:
Beyond oil and narcotics concerns, the move could have been aimed at weakening Havana by severing its vital economic and political lifeline from Caracas.
A Strategic Pressure Point on Havana
• Cuba’s economy has long relied on Venezuelan oil and financial support, making Caracas critical to Havana’s survival.
• By disrupting Venezuela’s government and its export networks, the United States may have sought to indirectly apply pressure on Cuba’s fragile economy.
• The capture of Maduro sends a signal that the U.S. aims to reduce influence networks that have historically tied Cuba to Venezuelan resources and regional support.
Oil, Influence and Regional Power
• Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest crude reserves, and control over this energy wealth remains an integral part of Washington’s calculus.
• But the ties between Caracas and Havana extend beyond economics — they represent a shared strategic axis in the Western hemisphere that has resisted U.S. influence for decades.
• Weakening that axis could shift the regional geopolitical balance in ways that reach beyond Venezuela’s borders.
Cuban Concerns and U.S. Rhetoric
• Cuban leaders and citizens have reacted with alarm to developments in Venezuela, fearing contagion of instability and economic collapse.
• The loss of Venezuelan oil supplies has already deepened hardship on the island, exacerbating fuel shortages and power challenges.
• Senior U.S. officials have hinted that Cuba’s longstanding alliance with Caracas makes it integral to understanding the broader strategy behind the Venezuelan operation.
Final Thoughts
While securing control over Venezuela’s oil resources and combating narco-trafficking were core elements of the U.S. action, the potential impact on Cuba — a long-standing ideological and economic ally of Caracas — suggests a wider strategic dimension. By targeting the linchpin of Havana’s support network, the U.S. could be aiming to reshape power dynamics in Latin America and signal a new era of hemispheric influence.
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