The United States and Venezuela were once close allies, but a series of events led to a dramatic shift in their relationship. In the 1950s, Vice President Richard Nixon’s visit was met with violence, but this incident also marked the beginning of an alliance between the two countries that would last for decades. The US saw Venezuela as a stable and democratic partner, ideal for its Cold War competition with the Soviet Union.
During the Cold War era, US presidents, including John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, maintained good relations with Venezuelan leaders, even if they glossed over human rights concerns to focus on strategic interests. However, when Hugo Chávez won Venezuela’s presidential election in 1998, the relationship began to fray.
Chávez’s authoritarian rule and nationalist policies led to tensions with the US, particularly after an attempted coup against him in 2002. Since then, Venezuela has grown increasingly isolated from the West and has turned to allies like Russia and China for support. The current situation under President Trump is marked by a national security threat assessment and military force as an option.
The US has long been concerned with Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, which have made it a crucial supplier to the US market. However, this strategic interest often took precedence over human rights concerns or democratic reforms. As tensions between the two countries escalate, it remains unclear whether the relationship will take another dramatic turn.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/us/politics/venezuela-united-states-history.html