Bret Stephens, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and influential voice on U.S. foreign policy, has penned an op-ed in The New York Times advocating for the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
The analyst explores various scenarios, suggesting Washington could offer Maduro a safe exit to countries willing to accept him. However, should the Venezuelan leader refuse to relinquish power, Stephens argues that a military intervention, potentially led by Donald Trump, may become inevitable.
In his piece titled “The Case for Overthrowing Maduro,” Stephens asserts that the Chávez regime poses a direct threat to U.S. national security, citing its involvement in drug trafficking and alliances with countries like China, Russia, and Iran. These nations, he claims, have established a "strategic beachhead" in the Americas.
“Outside of North Korea, few governments have inflicted more suffering on their people than Venezuela’s,” warns Stephens, who has long supported the idea of the U.S. taking a proactive stance against authoritarian regimes that export instability.
Heightened Tensions
The article comes at a tense time: the U.S. has deployed a carrier strike group with 15,000 troops in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, under Marco Rubio's leadership, the State Department has designated the Cartel of the Suns—led by top Chavista leaders and Maduro—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
This designation empowers Washington to use anti-terrorism laws to target its members, seize assets, and sanction any entity with ties to the Venezuelan regime. Stephens believes this move “significantly expands the tools for action” and sets the stage for more decisive measures.
The Economic Sanctions Dilemma
Stephens notes that recent economic sanctions have neither weakened the regime nor improved the situation for Venezuelans. Instead, they have entrenched Chavista control and impoverished the populace.
He argues that the only viable solution is to force Maduro's ouster, either through military pressure or an operation akin to the U.S. capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in 1989.
Stephens proposes giving Maduro a “last chance” to seek asylum in Havana, Moscow, or Tehran. If he refuses, Stephens suggests a "Noriega treatment": dismantling Venezuelan air defenses, capturing military leaders, and extraditing Maduro to the U.S. for trial.
Stephens’ Influence in Washington
Born in New York in 1973 and raised in Mexico City, Stephens is a prominent conservative voice in international politics. He has contributed to the Wall Street Journal, served as editor of the Jerusalem Post, and regularly appears on NBC News. His work earned him the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2013.
Aligning with neoconservative views, Stephens advocates for using U.S. military power to uphold democratic order and counter authoritarian regimes. He sees Venezuela as a criminal state threatening regional stability, and warns that inaction only strengthens Moscow and Beijing.
“If you start to take Vienna, take Vienna. The same applies to Caracas,” Stephens quotes Napoleon, urging Trump to act decisively.
Regional Implications
Stephens' perspective highlights the growing strategic debate in Washington regarding Venezuela's future and U.S. involvement in Latin America. For many experts, his op-ed aligns with the Trump administration's increasingly tough diplomatic and military stance against Chavista allies, particularly Cuba and Nicaragua.
If Stephens’ ideas gain traction within U.S. security and defense circles, Maduro's downfall could transition from theoretical to operational reality, with unpredictable consequences for the Caribbean and Havana, Venezuela’s main political and military ally.
Understanding the U.S. Strategy on Venezuela
Why does Bret Stephens advocate for the overthrow of Maduro?
Bret Stephens believes the Maduro regime is a direct threat to U.S. national security due to its involvement in drug trafficking and alliances with countries like China, Russia, and Iran.
What does the FTO designation mean for the Venezuelan regime?
The Foreign Terrorist Organization designation allows the U.S. to apply anti-terrorism laws against the regime’s members, seize their assets, and sanction entities linked to them.
What are the potential outcomes if the U.S. follows Stephens' recommendations?
Following Stephens' recommendations could lead to military intervention or a forced ouster of Maduro, altering political dynamics in the Caribbean and affecting Venezuela's allies like Cuba.