WASHINGTON D.C, January 7, 2026 – In a recent one-on-one interview on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance outlined the strategic advantages of the United States’ military operation in Venezuela, emphasizing control over natural resources, leverage against adversaries, and a demonstration of American military prowess.
The clip, shared by the White House’s official Rapid Response account on X (formerly Twitter), features Vance responding to host Jesse Watters’ question about how “taking out a dictator in Venezuela” benefits the average American. Vance highlighted three key points: access to Venezuela’s vast natural resources, ensuring affordable energy for Americans, and projecting military strength to deter future threats.
“First of all, what it means is we’re going to be able to control incredible natural resources in Venezuela, which is good for America,” Vance stated. He added that this would provide “leverage on our enemies” and guarantee that Americans “always gonna have access” to high-quality, low-cost power.
Vance also stressed the operation’s role in showcasing U.S. military excellence, arguing it promotes peace through strength. “One of the best ways that you maintain peace is to make it clear that you carry a very strong sword if you ever need to use it,” he said.
Framing the action within historical U.S. foreign policy, Vance noted Venezuela’s proximity to the United States. “This is in our neighborhood. This is not Iraq, this is not 7,000 miles away,” he explained, referencing a cornerstone principle of American policy for over 200 years: “That we control our neighborhood.” He warned that failing to assert dominance would allow “a lot of bad people” to exploit the region.
Vance concluded by echoing President Donald Trump’s stance: “What the President said was in our neighborhood, the United States calls the shots. That’s the way it’s always been — that’s the way it is again under the President’s leadership.”
The post from @RapidResponse47, which supports the administration’s “America First” agenda, has garnered significant engagement, with over 1,100 likes and 42,000 views as of this writing. It comes amid ongoing discussions about the U.S. intervention aimed at ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which the administration portrays as a swift and effective move to stabilize the region and secure economic interests.
Critics, however, have raised concerns about potential escalations and the implications for international relations in Latin America. The operation has drawn mixed reactions globally, with some allies praising the decisiveness while others question the long-term consequences.
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