Iran’s endorsement of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has intensified amid the Trump administration’s escalating efforts to combat drug trafficking networks in the Caribbean. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, warned of ‘dangerous repercussions’ from U.S. military operations, framing them as threats to international security and stability. This public stance has been met with immediate support from Maduro’s government, with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto welcoming Iran’s backing as a demonstration of solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
Despite the diplomatic posturing, analysts have raised concerns about the strategic motivations driving this alliance. Isaias Medina III, a former Venezuelan diplomat who resigned in 2017 due to Maduro’s human rights abuses, argued that Iran’s support for the regime is not rooted in principles of sovereignty but rather in a mutual interest in criminal enterprises and asymmetric warfare. He criticized the partnership as a ‘calculated strategy’ that undermines international norms and poses a direct threat to U.S. national security.
Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, echoed these concerns, noting that Iran’s public defense of Venezuela reflects deep strategic anxiety within Tehran. He emphasized that Venezuela is a critical hub for Iran’s operations in Latin America, and its loss would represent a significant setback for Tehran’s regional influence. Citrinowicz pointed to the recent failure of an assassination attempt on Israel’s ambassador in Mexico, which Mexican authorities linked to operatives with ties to Iran’s Quds Force. He argued that this incident illustrates how Iran uses Venezuela as a staging ground for broader Latin American operations.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has intensified its military campaign against drug trafficking networks, including the recent strike on a cartel vessel off Venezuela. President Donald Trump has signaled a willingness to take decisive action, stating, ‘No, I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything.’ He has also emphasized the impact of Venezuela’s actions, stating that the country ‘dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons.’
AmFACT President Adriana Jones welcomed the U.S. State Department’s designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, calling it a demonstration of Washington’s resolve. She urged policymakers to extend the same designation to the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Línea, arguing that the delay allows these groups to operate with impunity.
Since September, the U.S. has launched at least 21 fatal strikes on boats suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking, targeting routes tied to Venezuelan criminal networks. These efforts are part of a broader campaign to disrupt maritime routes and combat the flow of illicit drugs across Latin America, marking a significant escalation in the region’s complex geopolitical and criminal landscape.