Venezeula: Bastion of Democracy - Debunking Lies & War Threats

by Penny Arcos

Donald Trump ripped off the mask of U.S. Imperialism when he bragged that the motivation for NATO intervention in Venezuela was simply to loot the country’s oil reserves. Venezuela holds 18% of the world’s oil reserves, exporting to the United States, China, Europe, India and Cuba. 

Since the advent of the Bolivarian Revolution 26 years ago, Venezuela has ended privatization of natural resources and used profits from the sale of their oil, gas and gold to invest in regional stability and the social wellbeing of their people. When Hugo Chávez was first elected, it had only 12 public universities; today it has 32. Illiteracy has been wiped out. Free healthcare is offered in community clinics staffed by Cuban doctors. Millions of people in Venezuela have seen their lives improved by having a government that seized control of their natural resources and structured the economy to serve working families. 

While our own bridges are collapsing, schools and hospitals closing and businesses boarded up, the United States and has launched an all-out assault on Venezuela. Citing the usual tropes of election fraud, violation of human rights, drug trafficking and violent gangs, the U.S. has imposed 1,042 unilateral sanctions against the citizens of Venezuela and is now threatening to invade militarily. But Venezuelans stand united in the fight against Imperialism/Globalism.

“Why can’t the United States just invade the troubled country?”

~Donald Trump, August 2017

Economic Warfare 

Since Obama declared that Venezuela was an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to national security in the United States in 2015, a barrage of 1,042 unilateral sanctions have been imposed on Venezuela and her people. Since then, Venezuela has lost 40 billion dollars annually. Production by the state-owned oil company PDVSA dropped 87% between 2015 and 2020, resulting in a loss of 3,995 billion barrels and $232 billion during that period. Foreign currency inflows dropped from $39 billion in 2014 to &743 million in 2020. Additionally $20 billion of assets are frozen in 29 international banks and three multilateral institutions. Alena Douhan reported to the UN that sanctions devastated the entire population. In addition to the suffering, these sanctions had robbed Venezuelans of $642 billion by 2022. That figure continues to grow.

"What they want is a war in the Caribbean and South America

for regime change, to impose a puppet government

and steal the oil, gas, and gold." ~ Nicolás Maduro, October 8, 2025.

Military Threats

The Trump administration threatens Venezuela and the Caribbean with military force. Three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers providing air and missile defense capabilities are deployed off the coast of Venezuela.  An amphibious group consisting of three ships and a nuclear-powered attack submarine and F-35 fighter jets are poised to attack. A Boeing P-8 Poseidon and maritime surveillance aircraft provide intelligence. And a contingent of approximately 4,000 to 4,500 personnel, including a ground combat component of at least 2,200 Marines is ready to invade.  US Marines loaded with weapons of war boarded and occupied a small, harmless tuna fishing boat in the Caribbean for eight hours. Five F-35s Fly Over the Venezuelan Coast: At least five US F-35 fighter jets flew over waters of the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, with flight characteristics of 400 knots and flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet. Beginning in September 2025, the United States military has conducted nine air strikes on alleged drug boats in the Southern Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing 37 people, with no evidence produced of drug trafficking. 

The cost for American taxpayers for six months is as follows:

Ships operations: ~$236.5m
Personnel: ~$380m
Air operations: ~$54m
Overhead: ~$134m
Total ≈ $804.5 million (≈ $0.8 billion) for a 6-month deployment of that force.

*These figures are calculated by ChatGPT

Little Narco Marco’s War on Drugs 

Marco Rubio, whose brother-in-law was a major cocaine trafficker in Florida, alleges that the United States is launching a war on a major narcoterrorist organization.  According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the global drug trade generates between $426 and $652 billion annually. Between 20% and 30% of that money passes through banks in the US, the country with the highest drug consumption in the world. 

The US ignores Venezuela's achievements in the fight against drugs in order to justify military aggression, break the constitutional order, and impose a puppet regime compliant to Washington's interests. The UNODC has certified since 1999 that Venezuela does not cultivate illicit crops and is not a major player in drug trafficking. Drug cartels do not even exist in the country. In 2025, the UNODC determined that 87% of the cocaine smuggled out of South America moves through the Pacific Ocean, 8% leaves through the Colombian Guajira, and only 5% enters Venezuelan territory, where more than 70% of this minimal amount is seized. During the time the DEA operated in Venezuela, there were no arrests of individuals linked to international drug trafficking organizations. Since Venezuela expelled the agency in 2005, drug seizures have increased by 4.4% and more than 170 drug lords and members of criminal structures have been captured and placed in the custody of national and international authorities.

Democracy to Defend Peace and Regional Stability

Venezuela prides itself on being an active and dynamic democracy to maintain peace and stability in the region. Venezuela’s constitution ensures active participation of citizens in more than 5,000 communal districts, where communities directly propose and select projects to be funded by the government. In 2025, when parliamentary, regional and municipal elections were held, international observers as well as opposition figures observed the voting process and the 16 election audits. 

History of Attacks on Venezuelan Democracy

Since 2002, the United States has attempted to overthrow the Venezuelan government. In 2002, they failed to oust Hugo Chavez with a military coup. From 2002 to 2003, opposition leaders, supported by the United States, sabotaged Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and fired thousands of workers. Venezuela’s oil production dropped from 3 million barrels per day to just 23,000 bpd, causing fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations, which devastated the oil-dependent nation. In 2014, the Obama administration collaborated with Saudi Arabia to flood the market with oil in order to lower oil prices, further destabilizing Venezuela’s economy. In addition to ongoing economic sanctions, Trump now threatens to strike Venezuela on land and send in troops to invade. 

• 2000-2003 ~Coup d'état of April 2002 and oil sabotage of December 2002–February 2003

• 2004-2005 ~ After Hugo Chavez victory was confirmed, the opposition claimed "fraud," and activated insurrectionary centers (guarimbas). In 2005, the right withdrew from the electoral process, attempting to invalidate parliamentary elections

• 2012-2013 ~The opposition lost the presidential elections in 2012 and 2013 and called for violence in the streets, leading to nine murders.

• 2014-2017 ~The far right launched the “Exit Plan” in 2014, leading to 43 deaths and over 800 injuries. In 2015, Obama declared Venezuela an "unusual and extraordinary threat" and imposed bloody “sanctions”. In 2016, another coup failed. In 2017, the far right launched “guarimbas” (squabbles), killing 142 and injuring more than 1,000. Maduro restored peace after calling a National Constituent Assembly.

• 2018-2019 ~Failed assassination attempt using drones in 2018. Self-proclamation and installation of Juan Guido as interim president, supported by the US, opening the door for looting Venezuela’s assets and resources. Attempted invasion under the guise of humanitarian aid.

• 2020-2021 ~After a failed attempt to seize power with Operation Gideon, Chavismo won parliamentary elections with more than 67% of the vote.

• 2024-2025~The far right activated neo-fascist violence in 2024 after denying Maduro’s victory, resulting in 28 murders. Venezuela dismantled over a dozen violent plots. Now the US military threatens to destabilize Latin America and the Caribbean.

Nobel “Peace” Prize-Tool of Imperialism

The recent nomination of María Corina Machado was a blatant act of Imperialist treachery. The Nobel “Peace” Prize is often awarded to traitors and warmongers, undermining its legitimacy. 

Dmitri Muratov,

A Russian-born journalist and TV show host won the 2021 Nobel Prize. He used his platform to undermine trust in the Russian government and has been declared a foreign agent.

Ales Baliatsky,

A jailed Russian political activist, naturalized Belarusian, won the 2022 Nobel Prize jointly with “human rights organizations” that targeted Stalin and supported the violent coup in Ukraine in 2022.

Narges Mohammadi,

An Iranian-born activist who opposes her country's government won the 2023 Nobel Prize.

María Corina Machado,

The Venezuelan-born political activist openly opposes Chavismo and calls for privatizing all of Venezuela’s resources. Openly calls for US military intervention to overthrow the government of Venezuela 

Machado has called for US military intervention to overthrow the government of Venezuela and promises to privatize all of Venezuela’s resources. 

Economic Recovery

Despite over a decade of crippling sanctions, an illegal blockade and assaults on its sovereignty, Venezuela has allied with other countries that face sanctions, such as Iran, to import food and to diversify its economy. Venezuela’s economy has grown for 17 consecutive quarters. This is the “unusual and extraordinary threat”. Imperialism holds back development to eliminate competition in the market. 

Venezuela Demands an Immediate End to Aggressions

Real data from the UN and the US government itself prove that the narrative of drug trafficking is just another phase of the failed regime change policy. This propaganda is used to justify military strikes on a sovereign nation, bypassing international law. Venezuela reaffirms before the world that it is ready to defend its sovereignty, integrity and peace, using all available resources, fully exercising its rights that are framed in the principles of the UN Charter. 

Hands off Venezuela! Peace Not War!