Attacking Venezuela would be a giant mistake

Key Points and Summary – The “Ledeen Doctrine”—the neoconservative idea that the U.S. must periodically crush a small nation to demonstrate power—appears to be guiding a new potential conflict with Venezuela.

The Buildup: The USS Gerald R. Ford and a massive naval task force have arrived in the Caribbean, signaling the most significant buildup since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Target: Unlike past interventions, Venezuela is a substantial adversary with state militias, 31 million people, and a regime that retains key loyalty, making a “smooth transition” unlikely.

The Risk: An attack risks triggering a massive refugee crisis, empowering China in the region, and destroying what remains of U.S. soft power in Latin America.

Read at National Security Journal

Author

Gil
Barndollar

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities