JD Vance Defends Venezuela Operation, Links Maduro Capture to Drug Crackdown and U.S. Power Projection
The United States Vice President JD Vance has publicly defended the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, framing it as a justified exercise of American power and a necessary strike against drug trafficking and the legacy of expropriated U.S. interests.
His comments, made via an extended social media statement, mark the most detailed response from a senior U.S. administration official since President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
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| File Photo of US VP JD Vance; Via ElonNewsUpdate |
The Venezuelan leader was then transported via a U.S. Navy warship to Guantanamo Bay before being flown to New York, where he is now in federal custody facing narco-terrorism and weapons charges.
The Vice President addressed growing skepticism around the operation, particularly over its legality, intent, and implications for regional stability. Responding to arguments that Venezuela is not a significant source of fentanyl — the drug currently driving much of the U.S. opioid crisis — Vance broadened the scope.
“Fentanyl isn’t the only drug in the world,” he said. “Cocaine — the main drug trafficked out of Venezuela — is a profit center for Latin American cartels. Cutting off that revenue weakens them. And yes, cocaine is bad too.”
In defending the use of military force, Vance justified the operation on the grounds of past expropriation of American oil assets by the Venezuelan state. “Are we just supposed to allow a communist to steal our stuff in our hemisphere and do nothing?” he asked. “Great powers don’t act like that.”
Vance’s remarks align with President Trump’s assertive justification of the raid, which he said was meant not only to bring Maduro to justice, but also to restore American leadership in the region.
Trump has stated the U.S. will "run" Venezuela until a safe transition can be ensured and that American oil companies would be brought in to rebuild the country’s energy sector.
While Vance’s rhetoric underscores the administration’s unapologetic stance, it starkly contrasts with international reactions from several allies and global powers.
China and Russia both condemned the U.S. raid as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the act as “armed aggression” and demanded Maduro’s release, while China called the operation “hegemonic” and urged respect for international norms and the UN Charter.
European allies have offered mixed responses. The UK and France supported Maduro’s removal as a path to democratic transition, though the UK emphasized the importance of upholding international law. Canada welcomed the opportunity for a new beginning in Venezuela but stressed the need for multilateral engagement.
India and Australia took a more cautious line, calling for dialogue and regional stability, while issuing advisories to citizens in Venezuela.
Within the U.S., Democrats and human rights advocates have sharply criticized the operation. They argue it bypassed congressional authorization and risked triggering a wider regional conflict. Some labeled the action a “blood for oil” intervention, especially after Trump’s statements about reclaiming Venezuela’s expropriated oil wealth.
Despite the criticism, Vice President Vance positioned the operation as a defining moment in American foreign policy. “The United States, thanks to President Trump’s leadership, is a great power again,” he declared. “Everyone should take note.”
Washington’s firm posture, echoed by Vance, signals that this operation is a statement of intent. The global response will test not just the legitimacy of the raid, but whether the United States is setting a new precedent for interventionism in its sphere of influence.
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