Will the United States Succeed in Overthrowing Maduro this Time Around?

Published: 27th of November, 2025 by Patrick Carpen

Last updated: November 27, 2025 at 18:29 pm

As US forces close in on Venezuela, the big question of the day is, “will the operation to capture Nicolas Maduro succeed”? This is not the first time that the United States has tried to oust Maduro from the seat of government, but will it be the last? A few days ago, in mid-November 2025, Maduro pleaded and prayed for peace. He reached out to the United States’ President and people through various missives, videos, and social media posts, but US President Donald Trump cast a blind eye and turned a deaf ear, showing firm resolve to villainize Maduro. The Department of State of the Trump Administration has named Maduro the head of the Cartel of Suns, which was officially designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

As the United States moved more military equipment and manpower off the coasts of Venezuela, the average onlooker might expect Maduro to cave under pressure, fleeing to Cuba, Russia, or China, and seek exile within safe borders. But negotiations having failed, a defiant Maduro now brandishes a sword, vowing to fight against “US imperialism.”

On November 27th, 2025, Maduro could be seen brandishing a sword in a show of defiance while bellowing anti-American and pro-defense rhetoric. Meanwhile, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces has mobilized via land, sea, and air, securing the country’s borders. Despite the United States’ superior military, Venezuela is one of the hardest countries in the world to invade. This is due in part to its unpredictable terrain, superior anti-aircraft missile defense systems, and hundreds of armed gangs loyal to Maduro.

The scenario reeks of déjà vu from 2019 when the United States attempted to attack Venezuela via Colombia and Brazil. The operation reached a stalemate, however, when the Brazilian Ministry of Defense barred entry of US troops into Brazil, citing unwillingness to engage in a war with Venezuela. This time around, the Trump Administration forged ties with Guyana and Trinidad, leaving Brazil and Colombia out of the mix.

Chavismo, which Hugo Chavez founded, and Maduro now represents, is a democratic, left-wing, popular movement that has sought to invest the riches of the state to empower and uplift the poor. It emerged in the context of historic marginalization and exploitation of Venezuela’s impoverished black and indigenous populations by the white Venezuelan elite of Spanish descent. Despite its apparent failure, some Venezuelans, especially those in the military, still believe that they have a lot to lose should the revolution be defeated, and would defend it at all costs. Don’t be surprised if this showdown reaches a stalemate and the United States is constrained to beat a retreat through the murky waters of the Caribbean Sea.