Neocons in the Trump administration are pounding the war drums against Venezuela even harder.
On March 6, 2019, the White House threatened sanctions on foreign banks that do business with the Venezuelan government as part of the U.S. government’s latest attempt to remove Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from power.
Reliable neocon advisor John Bolton stated that banks “will face sanctions for being involved in facilitating illegitimate transactions that benefit Nicolas Maduro and his corrupt network.”
Bolton added:
“We will not allow Maduro to steal the wealth of the Venezuelan people.”
Trump’s administration and various foreign governments have recognized Juan Guaidó, the President of the National Assembly, as the country’s interim president.
But it hasn’t stopped there. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on a number of top government officials and Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA.
In an interview with Fox News Radio, “Economic sanctions that have already been imposed on Venezuela are crippling the oil economy, which has always been its major source of revenue.”
Bolton continued:
“We are considering other economic steps we could take as well.”
What these “other economic steps” look like is up for speculation but given the U.S.’s multi-decade track record of regime change, there should be cause for concern.
Bolton’s recent saber-rattling on Venezuela is indicative of a move towards more stringent sanctions that will ultimately hurt Venezuelan people.
Socialism’s failure is very apparent in Venezuela, but that does necessitate a U.S. intervention in the country. The potential unintended consequences are numerous, as the country could experience a refugee crisis like never before.
This refugee calamity would most certainly wash up onto the U.S.’s borders, further accentuating the U.S.’s current immigration quagmire.
Venezuela is a sovereign nation that willingly chose socialism, and thus, must be allowed to fail on its own terms. Americans can still lend their moral and financial support on a private basis to the country. Heck, if private security services want to step in and make a difference, they have every right to do so.
All in all, the U.S. should stay out of Venezuela.
