U. S. Policy in Venezuela: A Mess of Mixed Messages

The U. S. has been backing the opposition in Venezuela, claiming they won the last two elections. President Trump has called for Maduro's removal, accusing him of drug trafficking. However, in his speech after Maduro's capture, Trump barely mentioned drugs or democracy. Instead, he focused on Venezuela's oil reserves. Trump has accused Venezuela of stealing U. S. assets and land. While it's true that Maduro's predecessor canceled U. S. oil companies' concessions, oil rights in Venezuela belong to the state. This is common in many countries around the world. Trump is now threatening legitimately elected, left-leaning governments in Mexico and Colombia. Colombian President Gustavo Petro wants to stop oil exports, which some people think is crazy. But given the situation, it might not be such a bad idea. Maduro and his wife are facing charges in the U. S. , including owning machine guns. The origin of these weapons is still unknown. However, easy access to U. S. -made guns in Latin America is a big problem. It fuels violence and drug trafficking, which is one of the charges against Maduro. Trump's supporters have consistently opposed gun control in the U. S.Just days before Maduro's arrest, Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 45 years in prison. This move seems illogical and raises many questions. The real issue in Venezuela, and much of Latin America, is the huge gap between the rich and the poor. Oil often brings more harm than good, especially in developing democracies. Maduro and others like him use this to justify their rule. Meanwhile, the U. S. rarely supports progressive governments in the region. Instead, they often undermine them, giving dictators like Maduro an excuse to stay in power. U. S. interventions in Latin America have a long history. They often claim to support democracy but end up causing decades of military rule. Recently, there was hope for change. But the situation in Venezuela shows that old patterns are still at play. The contradictions in U. S. policy are clear. They claim to support democracy but often undermine it. The situation in Venezuela is a perfect example of this. Trump's actions seem more about personal gain than genuine concern for the people of Venezuela.