How Trump can prevent a forever-blockade in Venezuela

Excerpt

As a candidate, President Trump said he wouldn’t commit the United States to forever wars. He never said anything about forever-blockades.

Since August 2025, the U.S. Navy has deployed a substantial — and at times historic — number of warships to the Caribbean. Initially tasked with intercepting drug shipments, then supporting the capture of Nicolas Maduro, these forces are now policing Venezuelan oil exports. Together, these ships and the thousands of sailors aboard them represent the most significant source of American leverage over Venezuela today.

The question now is how Trump can secure long-term wins in Venezuela without committing the U.S. Navy to an indefinite blockade.

Max Meizlish is a research fellow for the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Josh Birenbaum is the Center’s deputy director.