A 2025 CBS News poll found that a majority of Americans opposed potential U.S. military action in Venezuela.
November 23, 2025
high
temporal
Public opinion measure of support for possible U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.
Authorization for a multinational oil company to resume pumping and exporting oil can restore export revenue that serves as a financial lifeline to a sanctioned government's finances; for example, U.S. authorization allowing Chevron Corp. to resume Venezuelan oil exports provided a revenue stream to NicolĂĄs Maduro's government.
November 17, 2025
high
temporal
Illustrates how economic concessions to companies can affect sanctioned governments' finances.
Trinidad and Tobago is approximately 7 miles (about 11 kilometers) from Venezuela at its closest point.
November 16, 2025
high
descriptive
Geographic proximity between two neighboring countries in the southern Caribbean.
Puerto Rico is an American territory located in the Caribbean, positioned north of Venezuela.
November 15, 2025
high
geographical
Political status and geographic location of Puerto Rico.
Cocaine is trafficked via maritime routes, including routes that transit through or near Venezuela.
November 06, 2025
medium
descriptive
Drug-trafficking routes relevant to maritime interdiction and regional security discussions.
Tren de Aragua is a Venezuela-linked gang associated with drug trafficking.
October 30, 2025
high
general
Background on the criminal organization referenced in coverage of maritime counter-narcotics operations.
Governments sometimes publicly characterize neighboring countries' foreign military activities or visits as provocations or as cover for covert operations (for example alleging 'military provocation' or 'false flag' attacks) without necessarily providing public evidence.
October 27, 2025
high
general
Describes a recurring pattern in international political rhetoric where states frame another state's military presence as threatening or illegitimate.
Trinidad and Venezuela are separated by a bay that is approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point.
October 27, 2025
high
temporal
Geographic proximity between Trinidad and Venezuela.
Within Republican Party discourse, the label 'interventionists' is used to describe members who support actions such as regime change in Venezuela and sending advanced weaponry to Ukraine.
October 25, 2025
high
terminology
Describes a partisan label and the types of foreign-policy positions it is used to denote.
Tren de Aragua traces its roots to a Venezuelan prison and is primarily known for involvement in contract killings, extortion, and people smuggling rather than major global drug trafficking.
October 25, 2025
high
temporal
Description of the criminal organization's origins and primary criminal activities
The Venezuelan Constitution provides that Venezuelans born in Venezuela cannot have their nationality revoked.
October 25, 2025
medium
temporal
Constitutional protection against revocation of nationality for Venezuelan-born citizens as cited in the article
In 2025, the United States increased its military presence and built up a larger force in the Caribbean Sea and in waters off Venezuela.
October 24, 2025
high
temporal
General statement about an increase in U.S. regional force posture near Venezuela and in the Caribbean in 2025.
Tren de Aragua is a criminal gang that originated in a Venezuelan prison.
October 24, 2025
high
background
Provides origin information about the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
As of 2025, most cocaine destined for the United States originates along Colombiaâs Pacific coast and commonly transits through Ecuador, Peru, or Venezuela before moving north via the Caribbean, Mexico, or increasingly via Pacific maritime routes.
October 23, 2025
high
temporal
Typical trafficking origins and transit routes for cocaine bound for the U.S.
Venezuela is geographically proximate to Trinidad and Tobago, with the Venezuelan coast located only a few miles from the island of Trinidad.
October 18, 2025
high
temporal
General geographic relationship between the two countries.
Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago are separated by only a few miles at their closest point.
October 16, 2025
high
temporal
Geographic proximity between the two countries.
Russia has been an ally of Venezuela.
October 10, 2025
high
contextual
Longstanding diplomatic and strategic relations between the Russian Federation and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Analysts estimate that a ground invasion of Venezuela would require roughly 50,000 to 150,000 troops.
October 10, 2025
medium
statistical
Range of troop levels commonly cited as necessary for a large-scale ground invasion of Venezuela.
Venezuela has been governed under an autocratic regime for multiple decades.
October 10, 2025
medium
temporal
General characterization of Venezuela's long-term governance as described in the article.
The United States has deployed a large naval presence off the coast of Venezuela and has publicly cited drug interdiction as the official rationale for that presence.
October 09, 2025
high
security
Explains stated U.S. policy rationale for naval operations near Venezuela.
A 2025 CBS News poll found that about half of self-identified Democrats said their party's positions were worth a government shutdown, fewer self-identified Republicans said the same about the GOP, and both major parties had net-negative (underwater) favorability ratings with Republicans slightly more favorable than Democrats.
October 05, 2025
high
statistical
Public-opinion polling on partisan support for a government shutdown and party favorability.
MarĂa Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts promoting democratic rights and seeking a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
The Nobel Committee cited Machado's role in promoting democratic rights and pursuing a peaceful political transition in Venezuela.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to MarĂa Corina Machado was Venezuela's first Nobel Prize.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
The award marked the first time a Venezuelan received any Nobel Prize.
MarĂa Corina Machado has spent more than two decades leading a large political movement in Venezuela that challenges the country's authoritarian leaders.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Machado is a long-standing opposition figure in Venezuelan politics known for organizing and leading sustained political activity against authoritarian governance.
A 2025 CBS News poll found that most Americans opposed potential U.S. military action in Venezuela, with opposition widespread across party lines and the proposal not receiving overwhelming Republican support, although MAGA Republicans were more supportive than non-MAGA Republicans.
2025
high
temporal
Public opinion on possible U.S. military action in Venezuela as measured by a 2025 national poll.
A 2025 CBS News poll found that only about one in five Americans reported having heard a lot about the U.S. military buildup related to Venezuela.
2025
high
temporal
Measured public awareness of U.S. military buildup near Venezuela.
Maria Corina Machado is a Venezuelan opposition leader who leads a pro-democracy movement.
July 01, 2024
high
descriptive
Machado is identified as the leader of Venezuela's pro-democracy movement.
By 2024, Maria Corina Machado had led a political movement challenging Venezuela's authoritarian leaders for over two decades.
July 01, 2024
high
temporal
Describes the duration of Machado's political leadership and opposition activity.
Only seven miles separate Trinidad and Venezuela at their closest point.
high
geographic
Proximity between the two countries across the Gulf of Paria.
Venezuela has asserted a territorial claim over roughly two-thirds of Guyana (the Essequibo region).
high
political
Longstanding Venezuelan claim on a large portion of Guyana's territory.
Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan criminal gang.
high
descriptive
Identification of a transnational gang referenced in law enforcement contexts.
MarĂa Corina Machado is a Venezuelan opposition leader who has been a prominent figure in movements advocating for democracy in Venezuela.
high
descriptive
Biographical and political role within Venezuelan opposition movements.
NicolĂĄs Maduro is the President of Venezuela.
high
descriptive
Identifies the head of state associated with Venezuelan national government.
Several countries, including the United States, do not recognize the government of NicolĂĄs Maduro in Venezuela as legitimate.
high
descriptive
Recognition stance by some countries toward Venezuela's government under NicolĂĄs Maduro.
Maria Corina Machado is a Venezuelan political leader associated with the country's pro-democracy movement.
high
descriptive
Background identification of a political actor mentioned in the article.
Trinidad and Tobago is located less than 10 miles (approximately 16 kilometers) off the coast of Venezuela.
high
geographic
Geographic proximity between the two countries
U.S. counterterrorism officials and lawmakers characterize Venezuela as a key facilitator and safe haven for Hezbollah activity in Latin America, alleging state-enabled access to drug trafficking routes, passport/identity-forging schemes, money laundering, and shelter for operatives.
medium
contextual
Summary of claims by U.S. officials and lawmakers about the role played by Venezuelan state actors in enabling illicit networks linked to Hezbollah.
Tren de Aragua is an organized criminal gang originating in Venezuela.
high
criminal_organization
Names a Venezuelan criminal organization referenced in reports of maritime narcotics trafficking.
The U.S. military conducts counter-narcotics maritime strikes against vessels in international waters near Venezuela.
high
military-operations
Use of maritime force in counter-narcotics operations in waters adjacent to Venezuela.
United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) is the Unified Combatant Command responsible for U.S. military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean and would oversee U.S. operations in Venezuela.
high
organizational
Defines the regional responsibility of a U.S. combatant command.
The Cartel de los Soles is a criminal network based in Venezuela that has been described in public reporting as linked to personnel within Venezuelan military or government institutions and implicated in transnational drug trafficking.
medium
organizational
Characterization of the organization as described in multiple public accounts and governmental statements.
The name 'Cartel de Los Soles' is used to refer to a purported Venezuelan drug-smuggling organization.
high
descriptive
Terminology used in reporting on organized drug-smuggling linked to Venezuela.
Some analysts characterize Venezuela as a strategic foothold used by Iran to project military, intelligence, and criminal influence into Latin America.
high
geopolitical
This describes an ongoing pattern of influence and presence rather than a single event.
State and non-state actors linked to Iran and Hezbollah have been reported to exploit governance weaknesses in Venezuela to facilitate illicit activities such as drug trafficking and operations beyond Venezuela's borders.
medium
criminal-network
This summarizes recurring reporting and analyst assessments about transnational illicit activity using Venezuelan territory.
The Cartel de los Soles refers to a network of Venezuelan government and military officials engaged in drug trafficking.
high
descriptive
Description of the group's composition and criminal activity