Trump Ultimatum to Maduro: US-Venezuela Tensions Escalate with Warships and Airstrikes

Escalating US-Venezuela Tensions: Trump Ultimatums, Rejections, and Military Buildup

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have surged to a critical level following a November 21, 2025, phone call where President Donald Trump delivered a direct ultimatum to President Nicolás Maduro: step down immediately for safe passage out of the country. Maduro rejected the offer, demanding global amnesty and control over Venezuela’s armed forces, which Washington dismissed, leading to stalled talks despite Maduro’s request for a second call. This clash unfolds against a backdrop of US military buildup, including over a dozen warships like the USS Gerald R. Ford and 15,000 troops in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear targeting alleged drug trafficking.

Military Escalation in the Caribbean

The US has conducted at least 21 airstrikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuelan waters since September 2025, resulting in over 83 deaths, with operations framed as combating “narco-terrorists” tied to Maduro’s regime. These include “double-tap” strikes confirmed by the White House, sparking investigations from Venezuela’s National Assembly and bipartisan US legal concerns. President Trump has warned of potential land operations “very soon” and declared Venezuelan airspace closed, heightening fears of broader confrontation while deploying B-52 bombers and MQ-9 drones.

Operation Southern Spear, unveiled in November, involves a hybrid fleet with robotics to dismantle trafficking networks, amid reports of identified Venezuelan military targets like ports and airstrips. Venezuela responded by mobilizing nearly 200,000 troops, including 15,000 to the Colombian border, and conducting naval exercises.

Maduro’s Defiance and Isolation

At Caracas rallies, Maduro vowed “absolute loyalty” to his people, rejecting Trump’s approach as a “slave’s peace” and accusing the US of intimidation. His position weakened after losing key allies: Honduras elections unseated leftist Rixi Moncada, with winners pledging to cut ties, and St. Vincent’s Ralph Gonsalves fell to center-right Godwin Friday. Even left-leaning Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia have distanced themselves post-Maduro’s disputed 2024 election victory over opposition leader Edmundo González, widely seen as fraudulent.

Diplomatic Paths and Regional Fallout

Colombia President Gustavo Petro offered his capital as a neutral talks venue and backed power-sharing between Maduro and opposition . White House officials met top security advisors, refusing to rule out ground troops, though some Republicans oppose invasion. As US forces tighten encirclement with no new dialogue, analysts warn of an “unpredictable” phase risking wider conflict or unlikely diplomacy.

This standoff, rooted in Venezuela’s 2024 election crisis where opposition claims González won by double margins, tests Trump’s aggressive strategy amid global economic ripples from potential instability.