US Strike On Venezuela 2026 | For UPSC IAS Exam

Why in the News?

The US Strike on Venezuela 2026 drew global attention after the United States carried out military operations in and around Caracas, leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The United States described the action as necessary to address narco-terrorism, illegal migration, and regional instability, while also invoking the Monroe Doctrine as a strategic justification.
The operation triggered widespread debate on violation of national sovereignty, breach of international law, and the revival of US interventionism in Latin America.
Major global actors responded cautiously, reflecting concerns about the erosion of the rules-based international order.

Venezuela’s vast oil reserves make it a strategic energy asset, especially at a time when global geopolitics increasingly revolves around resource security.
The United States announced plans to allow American oil companies to repair Venezuela’s damaged infrastructure, extract crude, and sell it internationally.
Analysts note that while immediate global oil price shocks are unlikely, long-term supply expansion could influence global markets if production is successfully revived.

China has emerged as the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, integrating Venezuela into its broader energy security strategy.
For the United States, Venezuela represents a geopolitically sensitive node in the competition to limit China’s influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Washington accused the Maduro regime of facilitating drug trafficking networks, designating groups such as Tren de Aragua as terrorist organisations.
The United States also linked Venezuela’s instability to rising migration flows towards its southern border, a claim rejected by Caracas as politically motivated.

The Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed in 1823 by President James Monroe, asserted that the Western Hemisphere lay within the exclusive sphere of influence of the United States.
It opposed new European colonisation and external intervention in the Americas while promising US non-interference in European affairs.
From Doctrine to Intervention
- The Roosevelt Corollary (1904) expanded the doctrine by asserting the US right to intervene in Latin American countries to prevent instability or European involvement.
- Over time, the doctrine became a justification for repeated US interventions across Latin America.
Application in Venezuela
- In 2026, the United States described its actions in Venezuela as a modern reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, arguing that instability and the presence of rival powers warranted intervention.
- Critics argue that this represents neo-imperialism, undermining sovereignty and reviving a doctrine historically associated with coercive diplomacy.

Russia condemned the US action as an act of armed aggression.
The European Union called for restraint and adherence to the United Nations Charter, particularly Article 2, which restricts the use of force.
Several Latin American leaders expressed concern that unilateral military action could destabilise the region further.
Comparisons were drawn with the 2003 Iraq invasion, highlighting risks of prolonged instability following regime-change interventions.

Venezuela is a federal multiparty republic located on the northern coast of South America, with coastlines along the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
It possesses the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels, making it one of the most resource-rich countries globally.
Despite this, Venezuela contributes less than 1 percent of global oil production, largely due to US sanctions, infrastructure decay, and prolonged underinvestment.
Since 1999, Venezuela has followed a socialist political model, initiated by Hugo Chávez and continued by Nicolás Maduro, marked by extensive state control over the oil sector.
Economic collapse, hyperinflation, and political repression since 2013 have resulted in a massive humanitarian and migration crisis, with nearly eight million Venezuelans leaving the country.

Energy and Trade Linkages
- India imported USD 255.3 million worth of crude oil from Venezuela in 2025, accounting for only 0.3 percent of its total oil imports.
- Since 2019, India has sharply reduced energy and commercial engagement with Venezuela due to US sanctions.
- Bilateral trade has steadily declined, with India’s exports dominated by pharmaceutical products.
Diplomatic Considerations
- India traditionally upholds sovereignty, non-intervention, and multilateralism, values that are central to its foreign policy identity.
- At the same time, India is engaged in sensitive trade and strategic negotiations with the United States, requiring diplomatic balance.
- Given minimal on-ground stakes, the situation is unlikely to affect India’s economy, but it carries high normative significance.

The US Strike on Venezuela 2026 reflects a broader trend of resource-driven geopolitics in a fragmented global order.
If sanctions are eased in the future, Venezuelan crude could help India diversify its energy basket and reduce supply concentration risks.
India must continue to protect its strategic autonomy, support international law, and secure energy access without compromising long-term interests.
The episode highlights the weakening of global consensus on sovereignty and multilateral conflict resolution.

External reference: The Hindu