WILLEMSTAD, WASHINGTON – The growing display of U.S. military force off the coast of Venezuela is intended to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power, according to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
In an interview with Fox News, Noem said the United States is sending a clear message through its actions in the region. “We are not only intercepting ships. We are also sending a message to the world that Maduro cannot continue. He has to go,” she stated.
The Department of Homeland Security is directly involved in part of the U.S. operations, particularly through the U.S. Coast Guard, which falls under Noem’s authority. The Coast Guard has been responsible for boarding and seizing several oil tankers operating near Venezuelan waters, some of which are linked to sanctions violations, according to U.S. officials.
In parallel, the Pentagon has carried out multiple strikes against smaller vessels in the region. U.S. authorities claim these boats were involved in drug trafficking operations. According to American statements, around 100 people have been killed during these actions. Washington maintains that those targeted were smugglers operating so-called “drug boats,” though independent verification of the claims has not been made public.
The remarks underscore a significant escalation in U.S. rhetoric and military activity toward Venezuela, moving beyond counter-narcotics enforcement toward openly stated political objectives. Caracas has repeatedly accused Washington of pursuing regime change under the guise of security operations, a claim U.S. officials have long denied but which now appears to be openly acknowledged by senior members of the Trump administration.
The situation continues to raise concerns in the wider Caribbean region, where increased military activity, maritime interdictions, and air operations are already affecting shipping routes, aviation safety, and regional stability.