Leopoldo Puchi is an analyst and former political leader.
Guacamaya, September 14, 2025. When examining the current clash between Venezuela and the United States, which raises the possibility of armed conflict, it’s easy to think of this as a “war between two nations.”
Yet, this perspective is flawed and misrepresents the real essence of the conflict.
This is not a traditional war between states; rather, it’s an act of domination where a powerful entity aims to subjugate a weaker nation for geopolitical gain and resource control.
War of Domination
Historically, colonial wars do not represent a confrontation among equals but are campaigns led by major powers against territories with limited military and economic strength, striving to enforce a new order and bring them under their control, be it overtly or subtly.
The dominant power is not merely after a piece of land; it seeks to claim resources as its own, convert the nation’s economy into a captive market against competitors, and reinforce its global dominance.
From India to Algeria, from Grenada to Iraq, the same underlying logic recurs: the violent enforcement of domination.
Conventional Wars
A war waged between states, such as the First or Second World War, or regional conflicts like the War of the Pacific between Peru and Chile, follows a distinctly different logic.
Although the countries involved may be unequal, they contend for tangible interests: borders, resources, political influence, or strategic supremacy.
In these circumstances, outcomes consist of territorial concessions, political agreements, or shifts in power dynamics. There is no systematic agenda for cultural or economic subjugation of the vanquished.
The aim is to establish conditions within a mutually acknowledged framework.
Washington’s Objective
The U.S. conflict with Venezuela does not adhere to the structure of a conventional war. The disparity in power is vast.
Washington’s intentions are neither defensive nor related to democracy or Venezuela’s domestic politics.
The core issue is the control of strategic resources and geopolitical dominance to thwart Venezuela’s integration into a multipolar world.
In this light, the Pentagon’s revised National Defense Strategy, which now emphasizes the Western Hemisphere, designates Venezuela as a crucial component for U.S. control.
Washington’s goal is political subjugation through the establishment of a government aligned with the White House, echoing the neocolonial patterns of the post-war era.
Fishing Vessel
If the Trump administration persists in its confrontational approach, it raises questions about potential future military actions.
Currently, we face a siege scenario; however, more aggressive options are already being considered. A U.S. destroyer has already attacked a fishing vessel in Venezuelan waters, and it’s entirely possible they could also target oil tankers.
Lethal Attacks
Next, we could witness land-based attacks involving special forces.
Considering the historical actions of the United States, it’s feasible that the escalation could result in lethal attacks on infrastructure or even efforts to eliminate high-ranking state officials.
Ultimately, a staged “incident” might be used as a justification for an invasion.
Independence
If U.S. military action escalates, it would constitute an act of domination consistent with the colonial legacy that permeates modern history.
In a scenario of invasion, one can expect the country to react in defense of its sovereignty, involving both militia and regular armed forces. Venezuela would enter a phase of confrontations, motivated by the necessity to prevent the fate of other nations in the hemisphere that, through treaties and protectorates, ended up under foreign control, adopting models of subordination akin to those in Panama or Puerto Rico.