Venezuela Is Rich In Opportunity

Just over a month ago, two events occurred that until recently seemed improbable: the direct intervention of the United States in Venezuelan territory and the overthrow, and apparent end, of Nicolás Maduro's dictatorship. The following reflects on the nuances surrounding this episode, understanding that it does not follow on from mere wars of words, but rather a conflict with a deep geopolitical heritage, both internal and external.

The United States has a long history of interventions in Latin America, the outcome of which has often been the removal of governments opposed to its strategic interests. The Venezuelan case, due to its recent and symbolic nature, cannot be analysed outside the context of this history. It is undeniable that international law was violated and Venezuela's sovereignty directly affected; however, it is also difficult to deny that the immediate result opens a window of opportunity for the country's democratic interests.

For more than two decades, Bolivarian socialism exacted a tremendous human toll. Under the governments of Hugo Chávez and, even more brutally, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan citizens suffered a systematic erosion of their rights: political persecution, arbitrary imprisonment, censorship, the co-opting of institutions, and the excessive use of the military as a tool of control. This, without mincing words, is the legacy of so-called 21st-century socialism in Venezuela.

Set aside your moral snobbery and absolute ethical compass, and adopt a realistic perspective. The overthrow of an authoritarian regime rarely occurs under ideal conditions. Of course, the US agenda is not altruistic, and its geopolitical and economic interests, particularly those related to energy, will influence the course of events. The international scene was always going to be divided between condemnation and applause.

From a distance it's easy to make sweeping judgments. For millions of Venezuelans who have suffered since 1998, the debate takes on a different dimension. Before condemning or celebrating, it's important to start from an irrefutable fact: what happened has already happened. And, regardless of the evaluation of the methods used, this action closes a clearly tyrannical chapter in the recent history of Latin America.

Ideally, the transition would have stemmed from an internal civic revolution. However, the regime's deep militarisation and the systematic suppression of peaceful means made endogenous change virtually impossible. External intervention, while questionable, can be understood as further demonstrating that the internal deterioration had reached a point of no return.

This does not imply endorsing interventionism as a general practice. Attacking the sovereignty of a state should always be a cause for concern and criticism. But it is also true that the Venezuelan context had been stripped of the minimum conditions for a democratic solution from within. The “head of the snake” has been cut off; now begins an equally complex stage, hoping that this snake does not become a hydra.

The United States cannot, and should not, shirk the consequences of its actions. Regional history demonstrates that a hasty withdrawal, once immediate interests have been met, usually leaves behind instability and an institutional vacuum. The coming months will be decisive and will inevitably be marked by the oversight and decisions of the Trump administration.

This article is, above all, an invitation to think rationally. It is not about portraying the United States as a saviour, but neither is it about ignoring the accumulated suffering of the Venezuelan people. Something positive must emerge from this rupture, even while acknowledging the political and economic interests at play.

For the first time in many years, Venezuela glimpses the possibility of recovering spaces of freedom that were denied it. It remains to be seen whether the leadership that emerges, whether through technocratic or electoral means, will be able to guide the country toward a stable transition. There is no guarantee that there will not be civil or military resistance, nor that the deposed regime will lack internal and external sympathisers willing to downplay or justify its abuses.

Those who read these lines should not lose sight of the central issue: the Venezuelan people and the profound damage inflicted upon them by an authoritarian project sustained by radical ideological rhetoric and inhumane practices. Today, control of the process is in external hands; tomorrow, the true test will be whether Venezuela finally achieves the peace, freedom, and democracy that have been denied it for almost three decades.

Image: Flickr/Trump White House (Andrea Hanks)

Licence: public domain

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