Elliott Abrams, as the U.S. Special Representative ...

Editor's note: ...for Venezuela, has championed a policy approach that combines harsh sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA (see Elliott Abrams returns, promoting a Caracas cakewalk) with selective licensing that allows U.S. oil firms, like Chevron, to operate in the country. Critics argue this dual strategy weakens Venezuela's nationalized oil sector while positioning U.S. companies to reclaim lucrative oil assets once the Maduro government is destabilized or replaced. While Abrams frames his policies as the usual US empire bullshit about "promoting democracy and pressuring a repressive regime," the practical outcome strongly aligns with the strategic and financial interests of major U.S. oil corporations, effectively favoring them in the global energy market and protecting the US dollar. Remember how Abrams played a key policy and diplomatic role in shaping the catastrophic U.S. strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan?

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How to Topple Maduro

And Why Regime Change Is the Only Way Forward in Venezuela

By Elliott Abrams | November 20, 2025

ELLIOTT ABRAMS is a Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as Special Representative for Venezuela in the first Trump administration and as Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America in the Reagan administration.

On the last day of October, CBS's 60 Minutes asked U.S. President Donald Trump about his policy on Venezuela and his thoughts about that country's dictator, Nicolás Maduro. "Are Maduro's days as president numbered?" asked Norah O'Donnell. "I would say yeah," Trump replied. "I think so, yeah."

This phlegmatic response was a good summary of current U.S. policy: Washington favors Maduro's downfall, but its position lacks clarity and is not backed by the actions—including military strikes inside Venezuela—that would bring about the outcome U.S. officials appear...

Read this article for free by registering. If this was published in the prestigious Foreign Affairs publication expect military action.

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Drug trafficking is the obvious cover story for public pacification. The only way to reduce inflation and protect the US dollar is to take control of Venezuela's oil production and output:

Trump shuts down Venezuelan airspace 'in its entirety' as drug trafficking surges

It's anyone's guess what motivates Hegseth. Hey Pete, say something about Venezuela's oil production would you?

GOP senators to join Democrats in investigating Pete Hegseth 'kill everybody' allegations