How US–Venezuela Relations Collapsed After the Failed 2002 Coup Against Hugo Chávez

Relations between the United States and Venezuela, historically cooperative through much of the 20th century, deteriorated dramatically following a failed coup attempt against President Hugo Chávez in April 2002. That episode, which lasted barely two days, became a defining moment in Venezuelan political memory and continues to influence the worldview of President Nicolás Maduro, Chávez’s handpicked successor and political heir.

The breakdown of trust resurfaced sharply after reports that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and evacuated following U.S. military strikes on strategic installations in Caracas. The Trump administration justified the action by accusing Maduro’s government of undermining democratic movements and aligning itself with U.S. rivals such as china and Russia. While the current confrontation appears unprecedented, its roots trace directly back to 2002.

As Caracas declared a state of emergency in response to what it described as U.S. military aggression, Venezuelans were reminded of the earlier attempt to forcibly remove their leadership. That earlier episode occurred when Chávez — who had groomed Maduro for leadership by appointing him vice president — narrowly survived a coup widely believed within Venezuela to have had Washington’s backing.

For decades, U.S.–Venezuela relations were anchored by oil. The United States was Venezuela’s largest trading partner and even supported Caracas during its 1895 border dispute with Britain. This long-standing partnership began to fracture in 1999, when Hugo Chávez assumed office and redirected Venezuela toward socialism while forging alliances openly hostile to U.S. influence in Latin America.

Chávez’s rise marked a decisive ideological shift. Nationalisation of key industries, particularly oil, redistribution policies, and sharp rhetoric against U.S. “imperialism” placed Venezuela at the heart of the Latin American “Pink Tide.” From Washington’s perspective, Chávez had become a destabilising force; from Caracas’ viewpoint, the U.S. had become an existential threat.

“Don’t forget, in 2002, the opposition backed by the U.S. did a coup against Chávez that lasted 48 hours,” geopolitical analyst Angelo Giuliano wrote on X in December 2025, echoing a widely held belief across Venezuela’s political spectrum.

Who Was Hugo Chávez, Nicolás Maduro’s Mentor?

Hugo Chávez served as president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013. A former army officer, Chávez first gained national prominence after leading a failed military coup in 1992. Rather than ending his career, the failed rebellion transformed him into a symbol of resistance against corruption, inequality, and elite dominance.

Elected president in 1999, Chávez launched the Bolivarian Revolution — rewriting the constitution, expanding state control over the economy, and channeling oil revenues into social welfare programs aimed at reducing poverty and expanding access to Healthcare and education.

His foreign policy placed Venezuela firmly in opposition to U.S. dominance. Chávez cultivated close ties with Cuba, Russia, Iran, and China, while aggressively nationalising foreign-owned assets. These moves earned him domestic support among the poor but alienated Venezuela’s elites and alarmed Washington.

What Happened During the 2002 Venezuela Coup?

The April 2002 coup attempt was driven by a coalition of military officers, business leaders, union heads, and political elites who accused Chávez of dismantling democratic institutions and isolating Venezuela internationally. Tensions had escalated after Chávez dismissed executives at state oil giant PDVSA, triggering mass protests and a national strike led by business federation Fedecámaras.

Violence erupted on April 11 when opposition marches converged near the presidential palace. Nineteen people were killed in clashes involving sniper fire, creating chaos that military leaders used as justification to detain Chávez. He was forced from office and taken into custody after refusing to resign.

Business leader Pedro Carmona declared himself interim president on April 12, swiftly dissolving the National Assembly, Supreme Court, and constitution. The move backfired almost immediately, galvanising Chávez supporters and loyal military units across the country.

Within 47 hours, pro-Chávez forces reclaimed control. Massive street protests and defections within the armed forces collapsed the coup, and Chávez was restored to power on April 13. He later credited mediation efforts, including intervention by Catholic clergy, with saving his life during the crisis.

Was the United States Involved?

Allegations of U.S. involvement surfaced almost immediately. The George W. Bush administration denied prior knowledge, claiming it was prepared to work with the Carmona government only after Chávez was removed. However, investigative reports challenged that narrative.

A 2002 Guardian investigation alleged that senior U.S. officials with ties to Cold War-era interventions in Latin America were aware of, and tacitly supported, the coup attempt. According to the report, coup leaders held multiple meetings with Otto Reich, then Washington’s top Latin America policy official, in the months leading up to the takeover.

The report further claimed that figures such as Elliott Abrams — previously convicted for misleading congress during the Iran-Contra affair — were supportive of regime change in Caracas. Although the U.S. distanced itself once the coup collapsed, the damage to bilateral trust was irreversible.

For Venezuela, the 2002 coup confirmed long-standing suspicions of U.S. interventionism. Chávez’s anti-American stance hardened, and under Maduro, those suspicions evolved into a guiding principle of foreign policy. Journalists and analysts have since pointed to U.S. funding of opposition groups as evidence reinforcing Caracas’ distrust.

When Chávez died in 2013, Nicolás Maduro inherited not only the presidency but also a worldview shaped by betrayal and resistance. He doubled down on his mentor’s policies, further isolating Venezuela from Washington.

Today’s confrontation between the U.S. and Venezuela cannot be understood without revisiting 2002. That failed coup did more than threaten a presidency — it permanently destroyed a relationship. For Caracas, it remains proof that Washington cannot be trusted. For Washington, it marked the moment Venezuela ceased to be a partner and became a persistent adversary.