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MOSCOW, Idaho — The United States has been implementing a strategy of influence in Venezuela, according to Florian Justwan, a political scientist with the University of Idaho.
Justwan explained that the U.S. aims for countries with strategic resources, like Venezuela, to be governed by administrations that are favorably inclined towards the U.S., also saying that Venezuelan President Maduro has been at odds with the U.S. for some time.
On January 3, 2026, the U.S. took action against Maduro, which Justwan said was an opportune time to do so.
“A lot of other countries that might have been much more vocal, against that operation, and that might have raised concerns that what the Trump administration was doing, are unable to come out and say this very loudly right now because they need the U.S. the support in the current Ukraine negotiations,” Justwan said.
But negotiations not the only factor, Justwan explained. Since Maduro’s rise to power in 2013, living conditions in Venezuela have rapidly deteriorated. But there’s another concern in the international community, Justwan said.
“People are worried about what that might signal about the United States actions beyond Venezuela in the future,” Justwan said.
A particular area of concern is Greenland.
“Everyone is really worried and concerned about whether or not the United States might actually making any concrete moves toward Greenland,” Justwan said.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to NBC News, “President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region.”
However, Justwan pointed out that the proposal to acquire Greenland is different from the situation in Venezuela.
“I think from a European point of view, Greenland would definitely cross a red line,” Justwan said. “Way more so than what’s currently happening in Venezuela.”
