The recent deployment of U.S. naval assets to the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela has reignited debate over the use of military force in Latin America.

Critics argue that such a move is reckless, unnecessary and reminiscent of Cold War-era intervention — gunboat diplomacy, even. But after more than a decade of failed diplomatic efforts, it may be time to confront a difficult truth: Military action could be the only remaining tool to restore democracy and stability to Venezuela.

This crisis did not begin with the Biden or Trump administrations. It dates back to Hugo Chávez’s death in 2013, when Nicolás Maduro — chosen for his loyalty, not his leadership — took power. Since then, Venezuela has devolved from a struggling democracy into a full-blown transnational criminal enterprise, a reality foreseen by Moisés Naím in 2013.

Despite bipartisan U.S. efforts to support opposition leaders like Juan Guaidó and Edmundo González, Maduro has clung to power through repression, electoral manipulation, deep ties to criminal networks and, most critically, support from Cuba, Russia and China. And although some elements of Venezuelan society might prefer to achieve a political transition without the use of force,

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