In early January 2021, the United States abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, resulting in an ongoing military presence off the coast of Venezuela. These operations, initially described as a counternarcotics mission, have since incurred costs exceeding $2.9 billion. The US Navy has maintained a blockade to enforce compliance from Venezuela’s authorities under the stated aim of facilitating a power transition. This situation has escalated into a significant military operation involving dozens of ships and aircraft. President Donald Trump has declared that the US will oversee the transition in power in Venezuela while ensuring significant control over the country’s economic resources, especially its vast oil reserves. The operation's cost peaked at more than $20 million a day during a critical phase from mid-November to mid-January, igniting debates about the appropriate use of military funding and the broader implications for US foreign policy in the region. Amidst this situation, international reactions have surfaced, with various nations condemning US actions in Venezuela as efforts aimed at economic domination. The military strategy and rhetoric surrounding the US's involvement highlight the geopolitical tensions affecting not only Venezuela but also its neighbors such as Colombia and Cuba, indicating a wider regional concern with drugs, migration, and control over resources. These developments have been met with criticism and suspicion from different global leaders, notably from Russia, who argue that such maneuvers are an attempt to restructure global energy dominance to favor US interests, further complicating relations in the Americas and beyond.