From Allies to Adversaries: A Brief History of U.S.–Venezuela Relations

Cheryl Hays
Jan 7
3 min read

Curated by: Cheryl Hays

The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Venezuela after its independence from Gran Colombia. Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1835, and over the next century Washington and Caracas maintained mostly cordial ties underpinned by trade and shared hemispheric interests.¹

Oil and Strategic Importance (20th Century)

As Venezuela emerged as a major oil producer in the 20th century, the U.S. became a key economic partner. American oil companies were deeply involved in Venezuela’s petroleum industry, and for decades the United States was one of Venezuela’s largest markets for crude.²

A significant bilateral agreement came with the United States–Venezuela Maritime Boundary Treaty in 1978, which clarified maritime borders in the Caribbean — reflecting deeper geopolitical and economic coordination.³

Turning Point: Nationalization and Sovereignty (1970s–1990s)

By the mid-1970s, Venezuela had moved to nationalize its oil industry, creating the state-owned company PDVSA and reducing the control of foreign firms over its resources. This shift mirrored broader trends in the developing world toward resource sovereignty and began to alter the dynamic with the United States.⁴

Rise of the Bolivarian Revolution (1999–2010s)

The real rupture in U.S.–Venezuelan relations occurred with the rise of Hugo Chávez in 1999, who pursued a “Bolivarian Revolution” rooted in leftist populism, skeptical of U.S. influence in the region. Chávez openly challenged U.S. foreign policy, strengthened ties with rivals like Cuba and later Russia, and sought to redefine Venezuela’s role on the global stage.⁵

During this period, tensions escalated. Venezuela expelled some U.S. diplomats, criticized Washington’s policies, and accused the United States of supporting political opposition. The 2002 brief coup attempt against Chávez — which Caracas attributed to U.S. involvement, though the U.S. denied it — deepened mutual distrust.⁶

Sanctions, Isolation, and Political Strife (2010s–2020s)

Under Chávez’s successor, Nicolás Maduro, relations worsened further. Venezuela’s economic and political crises — marked by hyperinflation, collapsing oil production, and human rights concerns — drew sharp U.S. criticism.

In 2019, the United States formally recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president and imposed broad sanctions, including targeting Venezuela’s oil sector and state entities. Caracas responded by breaking or downgrading diplomatic ties.⁷

Throughout the early 2020s, U.S. policy often focused on pressuring Maduro’s government through economic measures, humanitarian aid restrictions, and support for democratic negotiations, while also allowing limited licenses for U.S. companies like Chevron to engage in Venezuela’s energy sector under certain conditions.⁸

Recent Escalations and 2025–2026 Tensions

Relations between Washington and Caracas have reached new levels of confrontation. In 2025, the U.S. increased pressure with sanctions on Venezuelan oil firms and vessels, military operations targeting drug trafficking routes, and the seizure of tankers, intensifying diplomatic strain.⁹

In early January 2026, events took an unprecedented turn when the United States conducted a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, raising serious legal and geopolitical questions and drawing global condemnation. These operations stem from years of deepening mistrust and competing narratives about national sovereignty, narcotics trafficking, and regional security.¹⁰

Why It Matters Today

The U.S.–Venezuela relationship illustrates broader themes in American foreign policy and Latin American history:

The influence of strategic resources like oil in shaping geopolitical ties
The shifting balance between cooperation and confrontation in the Western Hemisphere
The enduring tension between U.S. geopolitical interests and the drive for national sovereignty in Latin America

Understanding this history helps contextualize current events and underscores why Venezuela remains a flashpoint in U.S. diplomacy, energy policy, and hemispheric relations.

References & Further Reading

U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian U.S. Relations With Venezuela https://history.state.gov
Wikipedia – Venezuela–United States Relations https://en.wikipedia.org
United States–Venezuela Maritime Boundary Treaty (1978)https://en.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia – Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) https://en.wikipedia.org
Encyclopaedia Britannica – Hugo Chávez https://www.britannica.com
Al Jazeera – Venezuela Coup Attempt (2002) https://www.aljazeera.com
El Comercio – U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela https://elcomercio.pe
U.S. Congress – Congressional Research Service Reports on Venezuela https://www.congress.gov
Associated Press – U.S.–Venezuela Sanctions & Seizures https://apnews.com
The Guardian – U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela https://www.theguardian.com