The US’ Delcy Rodriguez Dilemma

Excerpt

“Enough,” interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez proclaimed. “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela…This Republic has paid a very high price for having to confront the consequences of fascism and extremism in our country.”

Despite her denunciation and similar statements made following America’s capture of indicted narco-terrorist and former Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, Rodriguez has so far acceded to many of Washington’s conditions.

Amid threats directly from President Donald Trump that an uncooperative Rodriguez might face a fate “worse than Maduro’s,” Venezuela has signed a deal to deliver 50 million barrels of oil to the United States and other countries, passed a law allowing private oil companies access to its reserves, andreleased hundreds of political prisoners.

According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the United States seeks to stabilize Venezuela, reinvigorate its oil industry, and transition Caracas to genuine democracy—in that order.

Samuel Ben-Ur is a research analyst focusing on the Middle East at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Prior to joining FDD, he interned at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), an Israeli cybersecurity startup, and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He holds dual BAs in political science and history from Tufts University, where he founded the Tufts Tribune, a campus newspaper focused on free speech and politically balanced reporting.