US Lawmaker Links Potential Venezuela Invasion to Oil Profits

Salazar’s comments arrived amidst growing anxiety regarding the Trump administration’s aggressive posturing toward the Maduro government. Critics were quick to draw parallels to the Iraq War, with organizations like Justice Democrats accusing officials of openly pushing for regime change to benefit the energy sector. Fred Wellman, a combat veteran, condemned the rhetoric, warning that such justifications for military action disregard the human cost of conflict.

Beyond economic motives, the administration has intensified its pressure by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. Venezuelan officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, have long dismissed the cartel as a fabricated pretext for targeting political opponents. Colombian President Gustavo Petro echoed this sentiment, labeling the allegations a fictional narrative used by the far-right to destabilize non-compliant governments. These developments coincide with a CBS News/YouGov survey finding that 70% of Americans oppose military intervention in the region.