In a startling revelation, a major US military simulation conducted during the Trump administration reportedly included a detailed scenario for the capture of Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro. The classified war game, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, has come to light, exposing the granular planning undertaken by American strategists.
The Anatomy of a Hypothetical Invasion
The operation, which took place in 2020, was not a mere tabletop exercise. It involved high-level officials from the Pentagon, the State Department, and the intelligence community. The simulation meticulously plotted a full-scale intervention in Venezuela, with the primary objective being the apprehension of President Maduro and the dismantling of his government.
Key components of the plan reportedly included a multi-pronged assault involving special forces, cyber warfare to cripple government infrastructure, and a comprehensive information campaign. The scenario grappled with complex challenges such as potential resistance from Venezuelan armed forces, the humanitarian fallout, and the strategic response from international allies of Caracas, notably Russia and China.
Trump's Hardline Stance and the Road to 'Absolute Resolve'
The existence of such a detailed plan underscores the aggressively confrontational policy pursued by the administration of former President Donald Trump towards the Maduro regime. Trump had repeatedly labelled Maduro a "dictator" and recognised opposition figure Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela.
This military simulation represented the logical, if extreme, culmination of that policy. While the US has historically engaged in various contingency plans for global hotspots, the specific focus on the physical capture of a sitting head of state marks a significant and provocative level of planning. The exercise evaluated everything from the initial incursion to the establishment of a transitional authority in the power vacuum following Maduro's removal.
Geopolitical Repercussions and the Current Stalemate
The disclosure of Operation Absolute Resolve is certain to inflame tensions between Washington and Caracas. Venezuelan officials have long accused the United States of plotting regime change, and this revelation provides tangible evidence to support those claims, potentially fuelling anti-American sentiment and bolstering Maduro's domestic narrative of resisting foreign aggression.
Internationally, it complicates already delicate diplomatic relations. The plan's consideration of countering Russian and Chinese influence highlights how Venezuela became a proxy battleground in a broader great power competition. Furthermore, it raises profound questions about the boundaries of intervention and sovereignty in modern geopolitics.
Ultimately, the simulation remained just that—a simulation. It was never activated as a real-world operation. However, its existence lays bare the extent to which the previous US administration was willing to contemplate direct military action to achieve its political objectives in Venezuela. The legacy of this planning continues to cast a long shadow over Western Hemisphere relations, even as the current geopolitical focus has shifted elsewhere.
