The Trump administration is weighing significant military options to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including airstrikes, special forces raids, and seizing oil fields, according to The New York Times. Legal guidance is reportedly being drafted to potentially justify such actions without requiring congressional approval. President Trump has repeatedly inquired about what the United States could gain in return, with a specific focus on extracting value from Venezuela's oil reserves. These considerations, detailed in reporting that emerged during the window between 10:15 PM and 11:45 PM UTC on November 4th, 2025, align with President Trump's toughening stance against "Chavismo." The administration's potential actions are being explored as part of broader U.S. Southern Command missions, which have recently involved significant military presence and exercises in Puerto Rico, including the arrival of the USS Gettysburg in Ponce and U.S. Marine Corps stress shoot exercises on Camp Santiago. Previous reports indicated that the U.S. had been considering military strikes and other actions against Venezuela. Pope Leo XIV urged dialogue to resolve escalating tensions between the two nations. Meanwhile, financial firms UBS and Barclays are reportedly preparing to invest in Venezuela, according to Semafor, amid discussions about the "day after" Maduro's potential departure. The flying hospital Orbis MD-10-30F also landed at Luis Muñoz MarĂn International Airport in Puerto Rico during this period. Further context from earlier on November 4th includes reports of Russia delivering Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile systems to Venezuela over the weekend, while U.S. B-1 and B-52 bombers were observed airborne. The White House had confirmed multiple notifications to Congress regarding attacks on "drug boats," with Secretary Rubio slated to brief lawmakers on November 5th. These developments occur against a backdrop of U.S. investigations into an alleged plot by Iran to assassinate President Donald Trump, with Maduro previously implicated.
