US military operations in the Caribbean, including the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, have cost nearly $3 billion and the toll is rising, according to Bloomberg.
The US Navy has maintained a presence near Venezuela under the pretext of a power transition after President Donald Trump ordered the abduction of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in early January. Both are currently in US custody in New York, facing federal charges of narcoterrorism, cocaine importation and weapons offenses, which they deny.
The US military – which has been deployed throughout the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific since August in what was initially called a counter-narcotics mission – has implemented a partial blockade to ensure compliance from Venezuela’s remaining authorities. President Donald Trump has said openly that the US will “run the country” until a “smart transition” of power is completed.
The White House said the operation in Venezuela did not cost taxpayers any additional money because the forces involved were already deployed, but Bloomberg calculations based on daily Navy spending show that operating costs for dozens of ships, fighter jets, drones and logistics vessels peaked at more than $20 million a day from mid-November to mid-January, bringing the total to more than $2.9 billion since the deployment began.
The USS Ford strike group alone costs about $11.4 million per day, with logistics, intelligence, cyber support and operational testing.
Most of the basic expenses are covered by existing defense funds, but with the increase in combat operations, projections for the year are expected to be exceeded, media said.
Venezuela holds about 303 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves – about 17% of the global total and the largest in the world. The US has already brokered a 50 million barrel deal with Venezuela’s interim authorities and is using its military presence to ensure the revenues are managed on Washington’s terms.
Trump's recent statements suggest that the continued presence also serves as a warning to other regional actors. Beyond Venezuela, he has issued threats against Colombia, Mexico, Cuba and Panama, citing drugs, migration and strategic control. He has not ruled out future ground operations.
