The New Global Hub for Iranian Missiles
Caribbean Terror: How Venezuela Became a Strategic Stronghold for Hezbollah and Iran
In a terrifying shift for regional security, Venezuela has officially become a primary operational base for Hezbollah terrorists and Iranian military forces, using the nation's ports and passports to build a criminal empire just off the American coast.
A Safe Haven for Terrorists
By late 2025, the warnings surrounding Venezuela’s transformation from a failing oil state into a regional security threat have moved from classified intelligence briefings to the center of the global stage. U.S. officials now assert that under Nicolás Maduro, the country has become a primary hub for terror organizations, drug trafficking networks, and hostile foreign powers.
Margarita Island has emerged as the "center of gravity" for Hezbollah operations in the Western Hemisphere. Marshall Billingslea, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, testified before the Senate in October 2025 that Hezbollah’s integration into Venezuela began as early as 2001. Over the last decade, this presence has expanded beyond fundraising into active military training, smuggling, and deep cooperation with violent drug cartels.
The Marriage of Terror and Narcotics
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently highlighted the blurring lines between ideological terrorism and organized crime. During a press conference on Friday, Rubio accused the Maduro government of actively collaborating with Colombian guerrilla groups, such as factions of the FARC and ELN. These groups use Venezuelan territory and Caribbean shipping routes to flood the United States with cocaine.
American law enforcement agencies have long linked high ranking Venezuelan officials to the "Cartel of the Suns," a network that utilizes military resources and diplomatic immunity to facilitate drug shipments. Intelligence suggests Hezbollah has developed intimate ties with this cartel, gaining protection, funding, and access to established smuggling lanes in exchange for their specialized services.
Institutional Support and Iranian Alliances
Perhaps the most concerning development is the direct involvement of the Venezuelan bureaucracy. Reports submitted to Congress reveal that between 2010 and 2019, Venezuela issued over 10,400 passports to citizens from Middle Eastern countries including Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. Former Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami is accused of playing a key role in providing these identity documents to Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists.
This institutional support coincides with a massive strategic alliance with Iran. Since signing a 20 year cooperation agreement in 2022, Tehran has provided Venezuela with drones, fast attack boats, and missile technology. In return, Iran has gained long term logistical access to Caribbean ports and airports, creating a permanent intelligence and military foothold that officials fear will remain even if the Maduro government eventually falls.
Economic Fallout and Fear
The security crisis is now strangling the civilian economy. While local tourism rose in December 2025, international visitors are vanishing. Russian tour operators recently canceled all flights to the country, citing safety concerns after the U.S. ordered the closure of specific airspace and increased its naval presence in the Caribbean.
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado has warned that Venezuela was "occupied" years ago by Cuban, Russian, and Iranian agents, alongside terror groups. While Havana and Caracas deny these claims, calling them political maneuvers, the reality on the ground suggests a country whose institutions have been completely repurposed to serve the interests of global terror.