Developments should not be viewed as separate operations. This is why many analysts now see that Venezuela essentially served as a precursor for regime change in Tehran. When it became known that an American military operation had kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transported him to New York to face trial, the most fervent and immediate cheers came from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Donald Trump for the "bold and historic" action. To the casual observer, this might seem paradoxical. Why would a Middle Eastern country invest political capital in a coup in South America, thousands of kilometers away?
Everything is explained
The explanation lies within Israel's strategy. The coup in Venezuela was a prerequisite for the expansion of Israel's multi-front war against Iran. After securing Venezuelan oil under a government aligned with American and Israeli ambitions in Caracas, the US, Israel, and their allies launched the regime change campaign against Tehran, which the Israeli Right and its supporters in Washington had been planning for decades. The Israeli state considered Venezuela a strategic satellite of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar emphasized, the overthrow of the "dictator who led a network of drugs and terrorism" was welcome, adding that "South America deserves a future free from the axis of terror and drugs." US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stressed after the operation that "Iran and Venezuela have been close partners for the past 20 years," capturing the narrative promoted by pro-Israel lobby groups.
The role of Venezuela
According to Israeli security officials, Venezuela provided an operational stronghold for Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Forces, with the presence of Iranian drones in military parades and "phantom flights" between Iran and Venezuela, such as the 2022 incident involving a Venezuelan-owned cargo plane in Argentina. Others argue that these claims are exaggerated and that the Venezuela-Hezbollah relationship was more symbolic than practical. Hardline Israeli officials argued that Maduro's Venezuela was an incubator for terrorism and anti-Semitism in the Western Hemisphere, used for attacks against Jews, Israelis, and other critical interests—a claim echoed by politicians like former Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The ideology of Hugo Chávez, a staunch critic of Israeli policy, supported Palestinian liberation and aligned with states like Cuba, making Venezuela a permanent obstacle for Israel and a target for regime change.
Strategic positioning
The overthrow of Maduro constituted, according to Israel, a serious blow to Iran's revenues, weapons, terrorism, and training networks. At the same time, control of Venezuelan oil provides the US with a strategic advantage, especially as Donald Trump has reportedly stated that he "personally manages 80 million barrels of oil" through a bank account in Qatar. The narrative regarding the "Cartel de los Soles" and Hezbollah's drug empire in South America should be treated with skepticism. Although evidence of corruption and drug trafficking exists, the image of a state-run terror-drug network comes almost exclusively from think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and the FDD, which have promoted regime change in both Caracas and Tehran. Joseph Humire, current Assistant Secretary of Defense for Hemispheric Affairs, was the first to promote this narrative, though deeper research shows that the "Iran-Venezuela criminal relationship" is more complex and exaggerated than Washington's "hawks" present.
"Puppets"
The support of the hardline opposition, such as María Corina Machado, who took a pro-Israel stance and promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem, further strengthened the strategic plans of Israel and the US. The rise of right-wing leaders in Latin America, such as Javier Milei, José Antonio Kast, Nayib Bukele, and Jair Bolsonaro, bolsters Israel's influence in the region. For Israel, the overthrow of Maduro is a strike against Iran, security for American oil interests, and a step toward creating a pro-American, pro-Israeli bloc in Latin America. Netanyahu finally saw his wish fulfilled, with American power and Venezuelan oil guarantees making the venture "palatable" to Americans, despite the majority opposition of citizens to this war.
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