Fears civil war could ravage Venezuela if Trump launches assault

There’s is always a risk that land strikes defeating the [Venezuelan] forces could leave a vacuum of power for militias under criminal control or proxies of Colombian guerrillas known to have jumped the border into Venezuelan territory.” US land operations in Venezuela would require the consent of a neighbouring South American country to act as a platform for troops, Solar noted. Solar believes deposition of Maduro is unlikely due to the president’s skill at curating a loyal inner circle, however the top ranks of the Venezuelan military could hand him over to the US. But regime change would require “serious investment in post-conflict reconstruction and security assurances”, he said.