If followed through, the move would constitute act of war under UN charter.
Trump called Maduro’s government a “foreign terrorist organisation” and demanded that it return oil fields and other assets Trump alleges was stolen from the US.
“The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
This comes after months of attacking drug vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific, targeting Venezuela since September this year and blaming it for thousands of death from drug overdose in the US.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles on Tuesday, December 16, suggested that the attacks on alleged drug boats are aimed at toppling the Venezuelan President, according to Al Jazeera.
Also Read: Trump’s approval rating slips to 39%, economy weighs, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
First Published: Dec 17, 2025 3:44 PM IS

