What’s happening in Venezuela and what does it mean?

[theotherfossilsister]

I’m confused- has the US gone to war with them? What are the implications if so?

@mummymeisterhere

Two wrongs don't make a right

Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.

Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.

I don’t understand all the reasons behind this and suspect it’s oily nefariousness of some sort.

But a Venezuelan friend I met last week said the population were praying Trump would do something with the ships off their coast as he thought the population needed a bit of backing to get going with a revolutions. This man has close family and friends still in the country.

They shouldn't have to sneak. He created them so he can look after them. Just like he looks after all the other poor and/or brown people.
Yeah.

Do you mean Maduro isn’t the reason people are fleeing?

Can't see him make them feel as welcome as the white SA farmers...

Husband is Venezuelan and fled years ago but his parents and siblings still live there in Caracas and he sends them money every month. His mother is in poor health and relies on him for money for medication etc. They are celebrating this news this morning. This doesn’t mean everything will all of a sudden change but getting rid of maduro is a something the people have wanted for a long time.

This isn’t about US. This is about the people of Venezuela

First they fled Maduro. Now they're going to flee the ensuing chaos (which I hope against hope won't take hold).

If the VP is still there, could that mean that the regime will continue, even though Maduro has gone?

Looking at the quote history
MO0N · Today 13:37
So more refugees to help destabilise Europe?
it would be illogical to think that the newly captured person would be the direct reason for "more refugees" so yes, I mean the USA blowing stuff up today, not the guy who's not there anymore. I think that's what MO0N meant.

In a landslide victory Edmundo Gonzalez was elected legitimately the president of Venezuela. He should now be installed not a puppet general.
There was a very muted response by the EU but through Lavrov Russia has come out against USA actions. Just wish that coming up to four years of war in Ukraine, so many hundreds of thousands dead because of Russia’s illegal invasion of a sovereign country Trump could give the same treatment to Putin.

So have you been worried for the Venezuelan oil for the last 27 years? Do you know what you are talking about or just parroting the left press?

The Venezuelans are celebrating the capture of the real dictator. No one else did anything. Europe or the U.K.

Colombia seems to be concerned that people will flee.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/03/colombia-sends-armed-forces-venezuela-border-concern-refugee-influx

They have been fleeing for some time. As said I think the author below makes good points, if what he put forward were to happen people could return.

Trump was angry that Ukraine had ALLEGEDLY sent a drone one of Putin's many properties (alleged by Putin, denied by Ukraine).

But I assume on this basis, it would now be fine to go in a kidnap Putin in a military raid?

(Not that it is actually possible to do so)

Well obviously I spend every waking hour of every day of my life worrying about oil and other things I have zero influence or control over. Doesn't everyone?

Except when posters say "hurray for Trump saving all those people (in a country with oil) from starvation".
Then it is relevant to point out that he is not saving people in his own country from starvation.
Because that is clearly not his reason for bombing another (oil rich) country. He is not doing it to save the people of Venezuela from starvation, as some posters seemed to suggest.
And just to be clear, whatever the "This" in your post is about, the USA bombing Venezuela is about both the USA and Venezuela.

Exactly this! Everyone is waiting anxiously. Venezuela libre 🇻🇪

This is what I heard too - the drugs don’t come from Venezuela!

I read google news daily and this morning was the first I heard about US and Venezuela. Was really surprised it didn’t appear in any earlier news feeds.

People flee from Venezuela to the US plus other countries. I don’t think people are being realistic about what they face.

Yes it absolutely could still continue if VP is still there and the core power structures remain. There is a long way to go for Venezuela realistically. Let’s not forget trump has not done this for the benefit of Venezuelan people.

Ohhh that is what you heard. Cute. Must be true then. Are people really this dumb?

Thanks. I hope your DH's parents and siblings stay safe.

He'll never do that as he considers Ukraine to be in Russia's sphere of influence. The message sent to Russia for a while now is to leave LatAm to the US and he'll back off in Eastern Europe. It's not just a revival of the Monroe doctrine, it's also a new Yalta-style vision of the world with 3 blocs: The Americas + Western European vassals, Russia + former Soviet republics and satellites, China & Asia. Africa is sort of carved up between the 3 blocs depending on commercial interests.
(Btw that vision explains why he's gunning for the EU as that's totally incompatible with his new 'world order')