U.S. Fleet Approaches Venezuelan Coast: A Mix of Uncertainty, Fear, and Hope among Venezuelans

Caracas, Venezuela – U.S. warships steam toward the southern Caribbean. The Trump administration denounces embattled “narco-president” Nicolás Maduro and doubles a bounty on his head to $50 million. Rumors of an invasion, coup or other form of U.S. intervention flood social media.

For the beleaguered people of Venezuela, mired in more than a decade of crisis — hyperinflation, food shortages, authoritarian rule and rigged elections — a new phase of anxiety is once again rattling nerves. Even so, Venezuelans are trying to soldier on.

“We try to keep up our activities, our schedules despite the uncertainty,” said Leisy Torcatt, 44, a mother of three who heads a baseball school in a nation where a passion for sports helps fend off despair.

Students of the little league team for the Los Angeles de Baruta school practice in a park in Caracas.

“Our daily problems continue, but we cannot become paralyzed. … We keep on going forward trying to work out our differences,” she said.

There is an inescapable sense here that matters are largely out of people’s control. The massive anti-Maduro street protests of past years did little to dislodge, or undermine, Maduro, and the opposition has long been deeply divided. Authorities have jailed dissenters and broken up coup attempts.

And now, once again, Venezuela appears to be in Washington’s crosshairs.

“We have already seen it all,” said Mauricio Castillo, 28, a journalist. “It’s not that we have lost faith in the possibility of real change. But we are fed up. We cannot just stop our lives, put them on hold waiting for ‘something’ to happen.”

People shop in the central business district downtown.

Here in the capital, Venezuelans are accustomed to the enhanced martial ritual: more blockaded avenues, more troops on the streets, more barricades shielding the presidential palace of Miraflores, where Maduro launches diatribes against the “imperialist” would-be invaders.

Yet, despite the current naval buildup in the Caribbean, the Trump administration has given very mixed signals on Venezuela.

During Trump’s first presidency, his administration recognized a shadow opposition president, indicted Maduro on drug-trafficking charges and imposed draconian sanctions on the oil and financial sectors. The sanctions effectively collapsed an already shaky economy in what was once South America’s wealthiest nation.

The economic meltdown led to an exodus of some 8 million Venezuelans, almost a third of the population. Most ended up elsewhere in South America, but hundreds of thousands made it to the United States. Trump has signaled emphatically that they are not welcome, ending Biden administration-era protections and stepping up deportations.

A man fixes a Spider-Man costume at the San Jacinto popular market in Caracas.

During the presidential campaign — and since returning to the White House — Trump has repeatedly said, without evidence, that Venezuela had emptied its prisons and sent the worst offenders to the U.S.

But shortly after taking office for his current term, Trump dispatched a special envoy, Richard Grenell, to meet with Maduro, generating hopes of improved relations. Washington later granted Chevron, the U.S. oil giant, a license to continue operating in Venezuela — home to the globe’s largest oil reserves — in a move that provided much-needed hard cash for Caracas, and oil for the U.S. market.

Then, in July, the Trump administration hailed the release of 10 U.S. citizens and permanent residents being held in Venezuela in exchange for the return of hundreds of Venezuelan nationals who had been sport to el salvador.

Meantime, the United States has regularly been sending other deportees back to Venezuela in another sign of bilateral cooperation.

“So far we’ve seen President Trump very clearly endorse a policy of engagement with Venezuela,” said Geoff Ramsey, senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based research group. “The U.S. is not going to invade Venezuela anytime soon.”

Janeth, 45, a teacher of a community school, poses for a portrait in Caracas.

Others say they’re not so sure, despite Trump’s stated aversion to getting involved in more wars — and the likely negative blowback in much of Latin America, where the prospect of U.S. intervention inevitably revives memories of past invasions, land grabs and support for right-wing dictators.

In the view of U.S. officials, Maduro and drug trafficking are inextricably entwined. The White House labels Maduro the head of the “Cartel of the Suns,” a smuggling network allegedly tied to the Venezuelan government and military. And Trump has reportedly directed the Pentagon to plan possible military action against Latin America cartels. (Maduro denies the drug charges, dismissing them as a U.S. disinformation campaign.)

The massive scope of the U.S. naval employment seems to reflect the policy viewpoint of hawks such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has long championed a hard-line stance against Venezuela.

The buildup reportedly includes more than a half-dozen warshipsincluding at least one submarine, and thousands of Marines and sailors. The White House says it’s meant to deter maritime narcotics trafficking, not topple Maduro.

“This is a lot of effort to put into something that’s performance, no?” said Laura Cristina Dib, who heads Venezuelan research at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research group.

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1. “Faith in our people” says a billboard with President Nicolás Maduro’s face in Caracas. 2. A patriotic backpack with the Venezuelan flag colors and stars.

In response, Maduro has bolstered militia sign-ups, deployed 15,000 troops to the border with Colombia and insisted there’s “no way” U.S. forces can enter Venezuela. He scoffs at the U.S. contention that the naval buildup is an anti-smuggling effort, noting — correctly — that most cocaine is produced in neighboring Colombia and enters the United States via Mexico.

“It’s ridiculous to say they are fighting drug trafficking with nuclear submarines,” Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s U.N. ambassador, told reporters Thursday.

By most independent accounts, Maduro likely lost last year’s election — monitors disputed his claimed victory — but his many backers are making a high-profile show of support given the U.S. saber-rattling.

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1. People walk in front of a politically charged mural near Bolivar Square. The Iranian Forest vessel depicted on the right side of the mural arrived in Venezuela during fuel shortages in 2020. 2. The old military tank is a Middle-Tuarte.

The government has orchestrated public sign-ups of militia members demonstrating their eagerness to fight for the socialist legacy of the late Hugo Chávez, Maduro’s mentor and predecessor in Miraflores Palace.

“None of us will be afraid when the moment comes to defend our country from foreign aggression,” said Orlando López, 54, a grandfather and proud militiaman. “It’s not justified that the president of some other country wants to impose his will.”

He rejected the notion of a pervasive sense of nervousness.

“The climate in the city is one of tranquility, of peace,” said López, who is part of a more-than-1-million civilian militia force backing Maduro.

On a recent Sunday at Santo Domingo de Guzmán Roman Catholic Church in the capital’s Baruta district, Father Leonardo Marius urged parishioners to ignore the drumbeat of war pounding the airwaves and internet. Venezuelans, he said, should focus on more basic concerns.

“In Venezuela, a half a million children don’t have enough to eat — no one talks about that,” Marius told parishioners in his sermon. “But we love the Hollywood stories of boats and aircraft carriers, the show. … ‘They are coming! They are are disembarking!’ Please! Hollywood has done a lot of damage. Let the stories be.”

An all-girls skating team skates at Los Próceres near the Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas.

Across town, at an upscale sports club, Javier Martín, a businessman, said the noise was hard to ignore.

“The atmosphere across the country, but especially here in Caracas, is one of fear, distress, uncertainty,” said Martín. “You see hooded officials on the streets and it makes you feel fear, like you are in a war.”

Venezuelans, he explained, live a kind of “surreal” existence, struggling to maintain their lives and families while always anticipating improvements, and changes, that never seem to come.

“We live cornered every day,” he said. “It’s not sustainable.”

What’s next?

“Everyone expects something to happen,” Martín said. “I just hope it’s positive.”

Special correspondent Mogollón reported from Caracas and Times staff writer McDonnell from Mexico City.

How might Maduro’s call to arms impact the internal political dynamics within Venezuela?

Maduro’s Call to Arms & U.S. Naval Presence

Recent reports indicate a heightened state of alert in Venezuela following the deployment of U.S. warships off its coastline.This move has triggered a strong reaction from Venezuelan President nicolás Maduro, who has called for a national mobilization, urging citizens to defend the nation’s sovereignty. According to Tagesschau.de (https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/venezuela-mobilisierung-usa-100.html), Maduro aims to mobilize over four million Venezuelans. This escalation raises notable questions about the geopolitical implications and the emotional climate within Venezuela. The situation is being closely monitored globally, with concerns about potential conflict and regional instability. Key terms related to this event include: Venezuela crisis, U.S. military deployment, Maduro mobilization, Venezuelan sovereignty, and regional security.

Understanding the U.S. Naval Deployment

The precise reasons behind the U.S. naval deployment remain officially ambiguous. However, several factors likely contribute to this show of force:

Counter-Narcotics Operations: The U.S. has consistently cited concerns about drug trafficking originating in Venezuela as justification for increased naval presence in the region.

Regional stability: Washington expresses a desire to maintain stability in Latin America, and views the political and economic situation in Venezuela as a potential source of regional disruption.

Support for Opposition: While not explicitly stated, the deployment is widely interpreted as a signal of support for opposition forces challenging Maduro’s government.

Exhibition of Power: The presence of warships serves as a clear demonstration of U.S. military capabilities and resolve.

This deployment is occurring amidst ongoing political and economic turmoil in Venezuela, including hyperinflation, shortages of essential goods, and a mass exodus of citizens. The Venezuelan political situation is a critical factor in understanding the current tensions.

Venezuelan Reactions: A Spectrum of Emotions

The arrival of U.S. warships has elicited a complex range of emotions among Venezuelans.

Fear and Anxiety: Many Venezuelans fear that the situation could escalate into a military conflict, perhaps exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis. Memories of past U.S. interventions in Latin america contribute to this anxiety.

Hope for Change: For those opposed to Maduro’s government,the U.S. naval presence offers a glimmer of hope for a potential shift in the political landscape.They see it as a possible catalyst for democratic change.

Nationalistic Sentiment: Maduro’s call to arms has tapped into strong nationalistic sentiments among some Venezuelans, who view the U.S.deployment as a violation of their sovereignty.

Skepticism and Resignation: A significant portion of the population remains skeptical about any external intervention, believing that it will only worsen their plight. They are largely focused on daily survival.

Historical Context: U.S.-Venezuela Relations

U.S.-Venezuela relations have been fraught with tension for decades.

Oil Politics: Venezuela possesses vast oil reserves, making it a strategically vital country for the U.S. Control over oil resources has been a recurring theme in the relationship.

The Chávez Era: The rise of Hugo Chávez in 1999 marked a turning point, as he pursued an anti-U.S.foreign policy and forged closer ties with countries like Cuba and Russia.

Sanctions and Political Pressure: In recent years, the U.S. has imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on Venezuela, targeting government officials and the oil industry. These sanctions have contributed to the country’s economic collapse.

failed Intervention Attempts: There have been allegations of U.S. involvement in attempts to overthrow Maduro, including the failed 2002 coup.

understanding this history of U.S. intervention in Venezuela is crucial for interpreting the current situation.

Economic Impact and Humanitarian Concerns

the escalating tensions are exacerbating Venezuela’s already dire economic and humanitarian crisis.

Increased Economic Uncertainty: The U.S. naval deployment has further spooked investors, leading to a decline in economic activity.

Disruption of Oil Exports: Any military conflict could disrupt Venezuela’s oil exports, further crippling the economy.

Worsening Humanitarian Situation: The crisis is already causing widespread food and medicine shortages, and a mass exodus of refugees. A military escalation would likely worsen these conditions.

Refugee Crisis: The ongoing crisis has led to a massive outflow of Venezuelan refugees to neighboring countries, placing a strain on their resources. The Venezuelan refugee crisis is a major humanitarian concern.

Potential Scenarios and Future Outlook

Several scenarios could unfold in the coming weeks and months:

1. De-escalation: Diplomatic efforts could lead to a de-escalation of tensions, with the U.S. withdrawing its warships and Venezuela taking steps to address U.S.