The US attack on Venezuela is part of a long history of military interventions and political influence by the US in Latin America. Here are five such examples since World War II.
In the early hours of 3 January 2026, US forces captured disputed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were transferred to the US, where Maduro now deposed, faces charges of narcoterrorism.
The US operation, illegal according to international law, marks the latest in a long history of US interventions in Latin America, often justified by Washington with claims of regional security.
Many of these interventions can be traced back to the Monroe Doctrine, a foreign policy principle which despite its 19th century origins has continued to influence US foreign policy over the past 200 years.
What is the Monroe Doctrine?
The Monroe Doctrine dates back to 1823, when President James Monroe warned European powers aga
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