US-Venezuela: From Firm Ally to Dangerous Flashpoint Under Trump

• For decades, Venezuela was a key US ally in Latin America, valued for its democracy, anti-communism, and vast oil reserves, with the US supporting its stability.
• The relationship deepened through diplomacy, energy cooperation, and US arms sales, even surviving Venezuela's oil nationalization in the 1970s.
• The election of Hugo Chávez in 1998, fueled by public anger, marked a turning point; a failed 2002 coup made him openly hostile to Washington.
• Chávez reversed market reforms and tightened state control over oil, leading to a breakdown in relations, continued by his successor Nicolás Maduro.
• Under President Donald Trump, tensions escalated significantly, with the US framing Venezuela as a national security threat and employing military posturing.

Why It Matters: US-Venezuela ties devolved from a strong alliance to a dangerous flashpoint over decades.