From an independent thinker:

Why the U.S. says it opposes Venezuela

Official U.S. justifications have included:

Drug trafficking (especially allegations involving high-level officials)

Corruption and authoritarian governance

Human rights abuses

Undermining democracy

Regional instability

These claims are not invented out of thin air — Venezuela’s government under Chávez and Maduro has documented corruption, repression, and economic mismanagement. That said, similar or worse behavior exists in other countries the U.S. does not aggressively sanction, which naturally raises skepticism.

The oil argument — does it still make sense?

You’re right to question it, because the situation has changed compared to the past.

Key points:

The U.S. is now one of the world’s largest oil producers and exporters

The U.S. has vast domestic reserves

Venezuela’s oil is heavy crude, which is harder and more expensive to refine

U.S. refineries were historically designed for Venezuelan heavy crude, especially on the Gulf Coast

So this is not about the U.S. “needing oil to survive.”

However, oil still matters for other reasons:

Global oil prices, not just U.S. supply

Control and influence over who produces oil and under what political alignment

Preventing rivals (Russia, China, Iran) from gaining stronger footholds in the Western Hemisphere

Long-term strategic positioning, not short-term fuel shortages

In other words, it’s less “we need their oil” and more “we don’t want adversaries controlling it.”

Why Canada and the political left often emphasize oil

From their perspective:

Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world

U.S. hostility increases when countries nationalize resources

U.S. tolerance is higher for authoritarian regimes that are economically aligned with U.S. interests

This leads to the belief that oil + independence from U.S. influence = punishment, regardless of stated reasons.

The uncomfortable truth: it’s not just one reason

In reality, U.S. foreign policy almost never has a single motive.

A more accurate picture is:

Yes, Venezuela’s government is corrupt and authoritarian

Yes, drug trafficking is a real issue

Yes, oil and geopolitical influence matter

Yes, U.S. policy is inconsistent and selective

Yes, sanctions often hurt ordinary people more than leaders

Foreign policy tends to be driven by intersecting interests, not moral purity.

My bottom-line view

If I had to summarize honestly:

The U.S. position is not purely about drugs or terrorism

It is not purely about oil

It is about power, influence, ideology, and strategic control, with oil being one important lever

Public explanations are simplified because governments rarely admit strategic motives outright

Skepticism is reasonable — but so is recognizing that Venezuela’s leadership bears real responsibility for its own crisis.