"Separating cartels and the regime isn't always that easy," Ret. Marine Col. Mark Cancian told Military.com about US escalation against Venezuela.

Venezuela's military is unlikely to be able to match US aggression. But President Maduro has other options, say experts.

The U.S. has a long and checkered history of intervening in Latin America. Here's what that may tell us about President Trump's ideas for Venezuela.

While the U.S. ramps up military pressure on Venezuela's Maduro regime, Davidson College expert Britta Crandall provides critical context: the country is already in a state of collapse.

Brazil does not want to be involved in the looming US-Venezuela war, and has placed military assets along its border to discourage accidental crossings.

Trump's zero tolerance policy clashes with China's new tariff-free trade deal with Venezuela, escalating tensions as U.S. carrier group monitors the region.

Venezuela is preparing for a potential U.S. attack by deploying decades-old Russian-made weapons and planning a guerrilla-style defense aimed at creating chaos, according to sources and documents obtained by Reuters.

The USS Gravely, a U.S Navy warship, departs from Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 30, 2025. The warship is conducting exercises near the northern coast of Venezuela. MARTIN BERNETTI AFP via Getty Images

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro is calling for the U.S. to make peace after U.S. President Donald Trump dramatically upped the ante with its military presence in the Caribbean.