Since 2019 (Trump’s first term), an embargo has prohibited any American company from purchasing Venezuelan oil. Black gold accounted for 96% of the national income, and three-quarters of oil revenues came from American customers. The country’s GDP fell by 80% between 2014 and 2020.
In 2020, Donald Trump accused Nicolas Maduro of narcoterrorism. The Venezuelan president is said to lead the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns), a reference to the sun-adorned epaulettes of Venezuela’s military. There is no evidence of the existence of a such organization.
The Biden administration considers the re-election of Nicolas Maduro, sworn in on January 10, 2024, for a third six-year term, « illegitimate. » Nicolas Maduro, a disciple of Hugo Chavez, has been in power since the latter’s death in 2013 from cancer. In 2019, Donald Trump recognized an opponent, Juan Guaidó, as the legitimate president.
Bending or eliminating Nicolas Maduro amounts to combating Chinese influence in Latin America (China and Russia are his allies) but also allowing the return of Venezuelan migrants from the United States to their countries of origin. The fight against drug trafficking is not being fought in Venezuela but rather in Colombia, or with China (for fentanyl). Cocaine trafficking is merely a smokescreen for Trump’s benefit.
Since August 18th and the announcement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the deployment of US naval and air forces to the Caribbean for an anti-drug operation, Nicolas Maduro has mobilized a 4.5 million-strong armed militia and a 15,000-member security force on the border with Colombia, a US ally.
Does Trump really want regime change in Venezuela? Does he have the military means ? Will he launch an assault against a ruined and ultimately insignificant adversary ? Regardless, the sound of American boots has already strengthened the Venezuelan people’s unity behind Nicolas Maduro, who poses as the defender of his country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.