The United States has revived the centuries-old practice of 'gunboat diplomacy' in its recent campaign against Venezuela, blending traditional naval power with modern tactics. President Trump's administration orchestrated a swift military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, supported by a naval blockade and the seizure of oil tankers, echoing strategies used by global powers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While gunboat diplomacy historically relied on the threat or use of naval force to pressure foreign governments, experts note that the recent events in Venezuela involved more direct military action, resulting in casualties and the involvement of multiple branches of the United States government. Despite the evolution of international relations toward economic sanctions and soft power, the United States' actions in Venezuela demonstrate that coercive displays of military might remain a tool in foreign policy, especially in contested regions with strategic coastlines.