The Trump administration has escalated military operations in Venezuela, conducting drone strikes and seizing oil tankers under the justification of combating drug trafficking. Colombian President Gustavo Petro reported that a recent U.S. ground strike in Maracaibo targeted a facility linked to the National Liberation Army (ELN), a group characterized as a communist narcotics organization. However, Petro contested the U.S. narrative, asserting that the ELN was indeed the target, and raised concerns about the facility's involvement in cocaine production, leveraging Maracaibo's coastal location.

Sources indicate that the operation was supported by the CIA and involved intelligence from U.S. Special Operations Forces, specifically aimed at the Tren de Aragua, another group identified as a narco-terrorist organization. Despite these claims, Venezuelan journalist Andreína Chávez argues that U.S. assertions regarding fentanyl traffickers lack substantiation and are perceived as a pretext for economic destabilization aimed at controlling Venezuela's state-owned oil reserves.

In response to U.S. military actions, Venezuelan communes and popular organizations have expressed their commitment to defending national sovereignty and self-determination. Reports indicate that at least two oil tankers have reached Venezuela despite the ongoing U.S. blockade, with additional vessels en route. The Venezuelan state oil company has announced a 15% reduction in crude oil production due to U.S. pressure.

The U.S. military's operations have reportedly resulted in significant casualties, with those killed labeled as 'narcoterrorists' without evidence of their involvement in drug trafficking. Chávez emphasizes that the narrative of Venezuelan involvement in drug trafficking is not supported by data, noting that the majority of cocaine entering the U.S. originates from other Latin American countries, while fentanyl is primarily produced in North America. Critics have described U.S. military actions as extrajudicial killings, calling for a more humane approach to addressing drug trafficking.

The U.S. blockade is viewed as a strategy to economically suffocate Venezuela, aiming to incite public pressure against the Maduro government. This military operation is seen as an effort to regain control over Venezuela's oil resources, which were nationalized in the early 2000s under President Hugo Chávez, a move that sought to redirect oil revenues to benefit the Venezuelan populace but faced opposition from foreign corporations.

Chávez highlights the role of the Venezuelan communal movement, which began around 2009, in fostering local self-sufficiency and resilience against external pressures. These communes have developed systems for food production and resource management, reducing dependency on imports and enhancing local autonomy. In light of U.S. aggression, these organizations remain committed to defending their sovereignty and countering narratives of economic sabotage.