Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has lashed out at YouTube following the recent suspension of his official channel on the platform. "The owners of YouTube have failed, people continue to watch me on YouTube, remove all the accounts of mine that you want, imperialist fools," Maduro stated in remarks broadcasted on the state-run VTV network. "The more censorship, the further the message reaches. Keep censoring, imperialist fools of YouTube, congratulations to those who made the decision, productivity bonus for fools, to all of you," he added.
On September 19, Maduro's official channel, which had over 233,000 subscribers, was removed from YouTube. While it can still be found in search engines, attempting to access it results in a message stating the account is "unavailable." The platform has not provided any explanations regarding the removal, but the multinational channel Telesur, controlled by the Chavista regime, attributed the action to a "hybrid war" by the United States.
Rising Tensions with the United States
This incident occurs amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Recently, the U.S. deployed military forces in the Caribbean Sea with the stated aim of combating drug trafficking. The U.S. has increased its military presence in the region, deploying at least eight ships and over 4,000 personnel, along with F-35 fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico.
The Trump administration accuses Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns and has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture, an accusation firmly denied by the Venezuelan government.
Potential Military Actions
Reports surfaced on Saturday that U.S. officials are formulating plans for potential strikes against drug traffickers within Venezuela, a move that could escalate the ongoing military campaign spearheaded by the Trump administration. According to four sources cited by NBC News, President Trump has not yet given final approval. The plans reportedly focus on drone operations targeting members and leaders of criminal networks, as well as assaults on drug labs.
The White House referred back to a previous statement by Trump, saying, "we'll see what happens... it's unacceptable," while the Pentagon declined to comment on the matter. The potential step of conducting attacks within Venezuelan territory comes in the wake of recent actions in the Caribbean, where the U.S. claims to have sunk at least three vessels originating from Venezuela allegedly linked to the drug trade. Although Washington has not provided evidence that all the ships were carrying narcotics, authorities in the Dominican Republic reported finding drugs in the water following one of the incidents.
The drive to take further action stems, according to the administration, from Maduro's perceived failure to adequately curb the flow of narcotics.
Frequently Asked Questions about Venezuela and U.S. Tensions
Why was Maduro's YouTube channel removed?
YouTube has not provided specific reasons for the removal, but it is seen as part of broader tensions between Venezuela and the United States.
What is the Cartel of the Suns?
The Cartel of the Suns is an alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking organization reportedly led by high-ranking officials, including those within the government.
What military actions has the U.S. considered against Venezuela?
The U.S. is reportedly considering drone strikes on drug traffickers and attacks on drug labs within Venezuela.