Why did Donald Trump attack Venezuela and what will happen next?

Tensions have been on the rise for some time

We are only three days into 2026 and things really have picked back up from where we left off in 2025.

While tensions have been on the rise for months now between the United States and Venezuela, it wasn't until the early hours of this morning that Donald Trump decided to take decisive action.

The cause behind the world's supposed most powerful nation attacking a small South American country? - Complex and with a multitude of geopolitical and economic reasons.

Here's everything we know about this previously simmering and now overflowing conflict.

When did tensions start?

Relations between the US and Venezuela have not been good for a long time now.

In 1998 socialist leader Hugo Chávez was elected as president and started to nationalise industry and oppose US influence in Latin America.

As we know, historically the US do not like any politics slightly left of right and naturally became wary and cold towards Venezuela.

Of course, the Americans have precedent, notably in the Cold War where they influenced politics in a number of emerging socialist Latin American nations such as Cuba, Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador, etc.

However, things worsened in 2002 following a failed coup attempt which Chávez claimed the US had supported.

Chavez would die in 2013 with President (potentially until this morning) Nicolás Maduro taking over power.

Maduro is also a socialist leader, but also employed authoritarianism, election manipulation, and human rights abuses, leading to the US imposing sanctions on the nation in 2014.

Relations would worsen further in 2019 when the US recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president.

This was followed by sanctions, notably on Venezuela's large oil industry - we'll be coming back to that magic three letter word.

2025 - The year of the Trump

Now, these tensions were all pretty much based on tit for tat diplomacy until the arrival of FIFA Peace Prize winner Donald Trump!

Trump started taking direct action against Venezuela in the name of 'the war on drugs' - because all definitely worthy causes for attack/invasion need a 'war on' something.

This led to Trump ordering the US military to carry out attacks on small trafficking boats bringing drugs to the US.

However, this was done in a no forgiveness style which has led to around 110 people dead, as per the BBC.

Many of these attacks have also been carried out in international waters.

Trump also believes that Maduro is at the head of such operations, claiming him to be linked with the Cartel of the Suns, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the US.

While Trump has labelled drug trafficking as reasons for righteous hostility, many have pointed out that the vast majority of drugs entering the US still come through Mexico, and not on small boats from Venezuela, while are mostly produced in Colombia.

Trump has also used this hostility to partially ban migration and travel from Venezuela to the US.

The real reason?

While there may be some truth in the war on drugs and migration, one factor looms large over the heads of those backing military action in Venezuela, and its shadow stretches back decades - oil.

Many have been quick to point out that, quite astonishingly, Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, even more than Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states.

The US has already blockaded oil tankers around Venezuela and it is highly likely to be a motivation behind trying to depose Maduro.

Venezuela has been mistreated and abused by government mishandling, corruption and international sanctions.

A nation with more oil reserves than Saudi Arabia should be one of the richest in the world, but it isn't.

It is likely, whether to the benefit or not of the Venezuelan people, that Trump will look to broker a deal with a new regime in which America will be able to profit off these oil reserves - although this remains purely speculation.

What now?

Well, now it's a waiting game.

Trump confirmed this morning that the US had captured Maduro and his wife and that they had been flown out of the country.

Taking to Truth Social, the US president said: "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.

"This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

What they will do with Maduro is yet to be known, however, reports suggest the opposition in Venezuela have already begun preparations to take power.

This said, the current military and deputies of Maduro have also notified their intention to defend their position with Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López announcing an immediate deployment of military forces across the country.

This means Trump could have incited a civil war, depending on what forces the opposition have to fight the military, unless the Americans decide to put boots on the ground, Afghanistan style.

Of course we can't possibly know right now, so we'll have to wait for the next big update expected to come in a press conference at 11am ET (4pm GMT) at Mar-a-Lago.