In a scene reminiscent of ancient empires' dreams of controlling resources, allegations have surfaced that the U.S. call for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife is nothing more than a political theater aimed, at its core, at controlling Venezuelan oil. While this reading may seem like a conspiracy theory to some, it deserves scrutiny in light of the long history of U.S. interventions in Latin America and the current geopolitical struggle over Venezuela.
Background of the Conflict
Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, making it a focal point for global powers. Since Hugo Chávez came to power in 1999, the country has clashed with U.S. interests, adopting resource nationalization policies and anti-American hegemony leftist orientations. With Nicolás Maduro assuming power in 2013 and the worsening economic crisis, Venezuela became a proxy battlefield for international powers.
Trump's Policies Toward Venezuela
The Trump administration adopted an explicitly hostile stance toward Maduro's government:
Recognized Juan Guaidó as the country's interim president
Imposed harsh economic sanctions that crippled the Venezuelan economy
Attempted to orchestrate a power transition through diplomatic and economic pressure
Offered a massive bounty for information leading to Maduro's arrest
Oil at the Heart of the Conflict
Numerous documents reveal that oil has always been central to U.S. thinking regarding Venezuela:
The state-owned oil company PDVSA was a primary target of U.S. sanctions
The Trump administration tried to block Venezuelan oil exports and dry up government funding sources
Washington openly supported Guaidó's plans to privatize the oil sector if he came to power
Reports indicate American plans to use seized Venezuelan oil revenues to fund an alternative government
The Alleged Political Theater
Critics of U.S. policy argue that the drug charges against Maduro constitute a "theater" for several reasons:
Timing of the accusations: Came at the peak of Venezuela's political and economic crisis
Clear politicization: The U.S. administration used these accusations to justify its policies
Questionable history: The United States' history of using drug charges to justify intervention in Latin America
Double standards: Ignoring similar violations by governments allied with Washington in the region
Broader Geopolitical Context
This conflict cannot be understood in isolation from the broader geopolitical rivalry:
Role of Russia and China: Moscow and Beijing have financially and militarily supported Maduro's government
Struggle for influence: Washington is trying to restore its influence in a region it considers its backyard
Economic model: The clash between the American capitalist model and the Venezuelan socialist model
Humanitarian Repercussions
This political "theater" has ignored the real humanitarian suffering of the Venezuelan people:
A devastating economic crisis leading to severe shortages of food and medicine
Migration of over 5 million Venezuelans
Exploitation of the humanitarian crisis for political purposes by all parties
While Washington presents itself as the defender of democracy in Venezuela, evidence suggests that oil and geopolitical interests play a central role in its policy. This does not necessarily justify the potential violations of Maduro's government, but it highlights the contradiction between official American rhetoric and underlying material interests.
A lasting solution to Venezuela's crisis will not come through political theater or competition over resources, but through comprehensive national dialogue that respects the will of the Venezuelan people and places their interests above the geopolitical interests of external parties. The Venezuelan people, not oil, should be at the heart of any genuine solution to their ongoing crisis.