News
Critical Minerals · Tren De Aragua · US Foreign Policy · Venezuela Mining
The U.S. military, in a strategic shift under President Donald Trump, directly intervened in Venezuela, killing Tren de Aragua gang leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero in a joint operation with Venezuela's government, aiming to secure access to Venezuela's lucrative mining sector.
The June 13, 2026 airstrike in Bolivar state targeted Guerrero, whose organization (TDA) was listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department last year, linked to extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration across the U.S. and Latin America. Venezuela's interim government, installed after the arrest of former President Nicolas Maduro in January, passed laws facilitating foreign investment in oil and mining.
Analysts like Bram Ebus of the International Crisis Group state this operation is part of Washington's broader push to access Venezuela's gold and critical minerals, long hampered by criminal groups. This marks a shift from traditional U.S. support for Latin American law enforcement to direct military strikes, as seen in recent joint operations with Ecuador and discussions with Mexico and Guatemala, according to Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America.
While a victory for the Trump administration, the "kingpin strategy" has historically not reduced drug flow, and TDA is a minor player in global cocaine. Isacson notes risks include U.S. casualties, civilian deaths from intelligence errors, or complicity with human rights abuses by partner militaries.
