Politics Weekly America “This is war”: Is Trump about to invade Venezuela?
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Dec 5, 2025 Tom Phillips, The Guardian's Latin America correspondent in Brazil, dives into the escalating tension around Donald Trump's focus on Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. They discuss the political turmoil in Venezuela, the implications of U.S. military actions, and the misinformation surrounding drug trafficking. Phillips debunks claims linking Venezuela to fentanyl and highlights the humanitarian crisis caused by migration. He warns of potential escalation and the risks posed by reckless military strategies, drawing parallels to past conflicts.
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Migration Is Massive, Not Manufactured
- Venezuela has produced a historic migration crisis with roughly 8 million people displaced since 2013.
- US sanctions worsened the collapse, but the exodus largely affected neighbouring Latin American countries more than the US.
Drugs Claims Don’t Match Evidence
- Fentanyl flows mainly via precursor chemicals from Asia through Mexico, not from Venezuela.
- A small share of South American cocaine passes through Venezuela and often heads to Europe rather than the US.
Narco-Boats Versus Small Crews
- US strikes targeted small fishing-style vessels often carrying many people, not necessarily major traffickers.
- Allegations of 'double tap' follow-up strikes and orders to 'leave no survivors' raised alarms about potential extrajudicial killings.