From sanctions to strikes: Why Trump escalated action against Venezuela

The United States’ decision to launch strikes on Caracas and claim the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro marks the most dramatic escalation yet in Washington’s long-running confrontation with Venezuela’s leftist government. The move follows months of mounting pressure and reflects a mix of security, political, economic and geopolitical calculations. Drug trafficking and national security claims The Trump administration says its actions are aimed at stopping illegal drugs from entering the United States. Washington accuses Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro of leading what it calls the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuela-based drug network designated by the US as a “global…