The Venezuelan government issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it called a “very serious military aggression” by the United States, in a new escalation of tensions between the two countries. This official announcement coincided with widespread panic in the capital, Caracas, where witnesses and residents reported hearing loud explosions that shook the city.
Details of the incident and the situation on the ground
According to reports, including those confirmed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), sounds resembling the roar of fighter jets were heard over the capital, followed by explosions believed to have occurred in the eastern and southern parts of Caracas. These rapid events led to widespread power outages across the capital, further fueling confusion and uncertainty about the situation.
Independent sources have not yet been able to determine the exact location of the explosions or their direct technical causes, but the government's immediate linking of these events to "American aggression" indicates the high level of security preparedness the country is experiencing.
A historical background of ongoing tension
This event cannot be understood in isolation from the historical and politically strained relationship between Caracas and Washington. Relations between the two countries have been marked by a chronic rupture and tension for years, with the United States imposing stringent economic sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector and on prominent government officials. The Venezuelan leadership has consistently accused Washington of attempting to orchestrate military coups and of being behind acts of sabotage targeting power grids and vital infrastructure in the past—accusations that Washington routinely denies.
This pattern of mutual accusations has become part of the political landscape in Venezuela, where the government considers any major security or technical malfunction to be part of a “hybrid war” waged by imperialist powers to destabilize the country.
Strategic importance and impact of the event
This escalation is particularly significant given Venezuela's geostrategic location in the Caribbean and its possession of the world's largest proven oil reserves. Any military action or security tension in this region not only affects Venezuela internally but also casts a shadow over the stability of the global energy market and the security of the Caribbean and Latin America as a whole.
This event could also reshuffle the diplomatic landscape, especially given the support Venezuela receives from international powers that rival the United States, such as Russia and China, making the Venezuelan crisis a point of international friction that transcends regional boundaries. All eyes remain on Caracas for further details regarding the nature of the explosions and whether they will lead to broader military or diplomatic responses in the coming days.
