In 1963, then-US president John F. Kennedy described Venezuela as “America’s best friend” in South America. That statement reflected a relationship that remained largely positive for nearly 40 years. From the 1960s onward, the United States drew closer to Venezuela, viewing it as an “ideal” regional partner until the early 2000s.

In this video, we explain how Cold War anti-communism and the exploitation of Venezuela’s oil reserves brought the two countries together for four decades. We then trace the origins of the deep-seated hostility that later developed on both sides, which culminated on January 3, 2026, with the abduction and arrest of Nicolas Maduro by the US.