USA US Secretary Noem: Venezuela's President Maduro "must go"
The US government wants to oust Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro from office, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. It is not just about confiscating oil tankers from the so-called shadow fleet on their way to or from Venezuela, it is also about taking action against the illegal activities in which Maduro is involved, the minister told Fox News. "He has to go," said Noem.
23.12.2025, 06:45
SDA
US President Donald Trump is putting Maduro under increasing pressure - with sanctions, attacks on alleged drug boats, a massive military deployment in the Caribbean and, most recently, the seizure of oil tankers. The sale of oil is the most important source of foreign currency and income for the Venezuelan state.
Trump has recently left little doubt that he would like to see a Venezuela without Maduro. He recently said, for example, that his days as head of state were numbered. At the same time, Trump has so far avoided calling for a change of power as openly as Noem has now done.
Noem speaks of an "enemy of the United States"
Noem's ministry oversees the Coast Guard, which is involved in the seizure of oil tankers. "Not only are we stopping these ships, but we are also sending a message worldwide that the illegal activities in which Maduro is involved cannot continue. He has to go," Noem said in an interview with Fox News. Maduro is involved in smuggling drugs "that are killing the next generation of Americans," Noem continued. "This is an enemy of the United States that we are taking decisive action against."
Trump's government accuses Maduro of controlling a drug cartel classified by the US as a terrorist organization and of being responsible for smuggling narcotics into the US. According to experts, however, Venezuela is not an important drug-producing country, but rather serves as a transit country - especially for the European market. Maduro accuses Washington of wanting to force a change of power in Venezuela under the pretext of the fight against drugs.
Trump has not yet publicly given any specific details on who the USA would like to see in power in Venezuela after Maduro's possible departure. A sudden power vacuum after years of authoritarian rule could plunge the country into chaos and destabilize the entire region. Due to the ongoing economic crisis in Venezuela, millions of Venezuelans have already fled abroad in recent years, mainly to neighboring countries such as Colombia.
