According to a November 2025 report, the US administration is weighing extreme military options against Venezuela, including bombing its military facilities, deploying special forces to kill or capture President Nicolás Maduro, or launching a large-scale invasion to seize airfields and oil infrastructure. While military planners believe current regional forces are sufficient for such operations, President Trump has expressed reluctance, fearing troop casualties and potential failure. This has led to the development of alternative plans involving naval drones and long-range weapons.

The push for war is reportedly led by officials like Marco Rubio, who, alongside the Justice Department, is seeking a legal justification by labeling Maduro a drug trafficker—a claim lacking public evidence. Critics warn that any attack would likely trigger a full-blown war or plunge Venezuela into chaos, with far more planning invested in toppling the government than on the subsequent stability of the nation.

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