It's been a while since we last updated Venezuela. For me, it's a painful exercise because it is conclusive proof of how crude the world has become under the malevolent influence of the Trump administration, which humiliates the South American country whenever it can, boasting of its undoubted control over it. In Iran, it is clear that the 47th President of the United States met his match, but he can always return to Caracas for comfort, because that operation worked out well for him. He flagrantly violated a country's sovereignty, kidnapped none other than its (de facto) president—selling the move as "a law-enforcement operation"—, threw him in a Brooklyn jail, and the world acted as if nothing had happened, except for a few inane, non-consequential calls to comply with international law.
But what has been the role of the new ("Chavista") leadership, what alternatives did it have—or does it have—, and where is the country headed? Interim president Delcy Rodríguez has become something of an American asset, praised by both Trump and Rubio. She is not just overseeing the dismantling of the Chavista political project, but rather the very sovereignty of her country, which is a more serious problem. Although the political engineering that Washington is apparently testing there may work at some point—that is, that we may see decent and transparent elections at some future date—, the stain of going through this variant of shameful political tutelage will never be erased from history.
People in the Miraflores Palace cannot control the fate of the Venezuelan crude and derivatives, nor the revenues. In every oil contract, it must be stipulated that U.S. law governs the contract. Contrary to what appearances might suggest, they are perhaps more sanctioned than ever. Yes, the grip on the neck is stronger than ever because it is now applied to a national power so diminished that it has almost ceased to be power, and that only makes the victimizer grow larger. Rodríguez is no longer sanctioned; there are "diplomatic" relations—after fire and blood—and it is even said that the government will regain control of Citgo—the Venezuelan state's commercial arm in the United States—, but all of that must taste bitter somehow if there is any shame left.
Now, what was the alternative? The alternative was sovereignty—that is, continuing to be a country—but sanctioned, economically decimated, isolated, and with gunboats pointing in your direction. Freedom comes at a high price, and if you don't believe it, ask Iran and Cuba, which are in my view the last cards the world has—even if the world doesn't care—to burn the arrogance of the Resolute desk's owner. As Randy Newman's song (from the TV series Monk) says: "It's a jungle out there // Disorder and confusion everywhere // No one seems to care // Well, I do // Hey, who's in charge here?"
Source for the cover image.
