U.S. Spending on Venezuela Operation Likely Exceeds $3 Billion, Experts Say

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Many people are interested in the cost of the U.S. military operation against Venezuela, and Bloomberg reported that the U.S. spent about $3 billion on the effort. However, experts say Bloomberg's calculations only account for the operating costs of ships and aircraft, and do not include other significant expenses like reconnaissance flights, satellite usage, training, and weapons used in the operation to capture Nicolas Maduro and target drug traffickers. As a result, the actual costs are likely much higher than the $3 billion figure reported.

Why it matters

The U.S. government has an incentive to downplay the true costs of the Venezuela operation for political reasons, but understanding the full financial impact is important for evaluating the scope and effectiveness of the military campaign.

The details

Bloomberg's estimates are based on data from the Congressional Budget Office and U.S. Defense Budget, calculating costs like $200.8 million for the operation of three amphibious dock ships, $873.6 million for a Marine expeditionary unit, $417.5 million for the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, and $323.4 million for its air wing. However, the analysis did not include the costs of reconnaissance and tactical aircraft flights, use of satellite technology, training, port calls, and weapons used in the operation. Accounting for these additional expenses means the total costs are likely significantly higher than the $3 billion figure reported.

• The operation was conducted between mid-November 2025 and mid-January 2026.
• The initial deployed group left the region in November 2025.