US media: Trump team wants to see Venezuela's Maduro banished to Moscow

The incoming Trump administration has supposedly set its sights on regime change in Venezuela, where Nicolás Maduro remains in power after disputed elections. 

According to statements made by unnamed Trump advisors to the Axios publication, one of the main triggers for the incoming US president is the migration crisis, an issue upon which Trump has largely founded his election campaign, Caliber.Az reports.

Nearly 8 million people have fled Venezuela over the past decade, with many destined for the United States.

During his campaign, Trump has also repeatedly accused Maduro of sending criminal gangs, such as the infamous Tren de Aragua organization, to the US. Maduro’s latest actions, including jailing opponents and threatening to "liberate" the US territory of Puerto Rico from Washington, have further fueled tensions. While Trump's advisers emphasize that regime change doesn't necessarily imply military intervention, they expressed their desire to see Maduro stepping down and potentially seeking refuge in Moscow, alongside other ousted leaders like Syria's Bashar al-Assad. 

The pick for next secretary of state, Republican Senator Marco Rubio is also a stark opponent of Maduro. The Florida politician, who is of Cuban origin, has described the oil-rich, cash-poor Venezuela as being "governed by a narco-trafficking organization that has empowered itself as a nation-state." Rubio, who once himself was feared to be targeted by a Venezuelan assassination plot, gave those comments during his recent confirmation hearing.  

While Trump imposed sanctions on Venezuela during his first term, his administration's next steps remain unclear. His interest in ousting Maduro has been heightened by President Biden’s recent decision to ease restrictions on Cuba, which Trump views as a central driver of socialism and instability in Latin America.

Maduro's alignment with nations that Washington regards as hostile, such as China, Russia and Iran, as well as his impact on regional stability have made Venezuela a focal point of Trump’s foreign policy, with regime change framed as a strategic priority for both US and Latin American interests.

By Nazrin Sadigova