Unfortunately, tensions between the United States and Venezuela are still surging. For millions of citizens in Venezuela, the life-saving interventions afforded to Americans remain a hope fueled by their resilience and a wish that a new leader will emerge. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro now has a $50 million bounty on his head from the US government. They charge him with drug trafficking, which of course he has long denied. The complex political landscape is further complicated by recent developments, including Maduro’s disputed electoral victory and his government’s controversial methods of maintaining control.
Maduro was just re-elected in April to his third-straight six-year term in an election condemned at home and abroad. Without a full final count published by the government, many have questioned the legitimacy of the electoral process. To quell the growing unrest, Maduro’s government has served as the architect of a repressive apparatus. They are imprisoning anyone who dissent including activists, protesters, and even a former presidential candidate who threatens to oppose his rule.
The US Bounty and Accusations
The US government has put a $50 million bounty on Nicolás Maduro’s head. This decision greatly exacerbates the year-long rage between the two countries. This provision has further fueled claims that Maduro is participating in drug trafficking. Maduro categorically rejects these accusations. He insists they’re the victims of a broader conspiracy against Venezuela, led by the country’s foreign enemies.
Mitigating against that, you have Maduro saying the US sanctions are an “economic war.” His response to this has been to perceive them as measures to destabilise his government. Yet his administration is continually accused of committing grave human rights abuses. They suppress protests that followed the disputed election of 2021. Against all odds, however, Maduro has clung to power. He raises 4.5 million militiamen to defend his new nation against these so-called threats from abroad.
“If the Marines would land on the beach and take Maduro out?” – a young Venezuelan man
This requires that many Venezuelans maintain a complicated relationship with the idea of international intervention. Many are scared by the prospect of increased military violence. Some believe that they are stuck where they are.
Maduro’s Strategic Alliances
To bolster his position amidst mounting pressure, Nicolás Maduro has sought to strengthen ties with China—one of the US’s primary global competitors. Earlier this month, he rolled out the red carpet for the new Chinese ambassador to Venezuela. He unveiled a new monument marking China’s victory over Japan in World War II. This decision represents another mark of the consolidation of the relations with Beijing, given that Maduro seeks China’s backing against increasing US sanctions.
Maduro’s outreach to China is inextricably tied to a broader strategy of aligning with countries opposing US expansion in Latin America. As he digs in his heels against US threats, he has characterized the American military presence as “the biggest threat seen on our continent in the last 100 years.” Far from reversing the damage done to US relations, such rhetoric attracts support from constituencies in Venezuela that have been marginalized by US policy.
“Nothing has changed for us, everyone is chill.” – Ulloa
Yet again, the charged political climate has not driven everyday citizens away from wanting to live their lives without fear. Their day to day is dominated and consumed by working, surviving, and existing in the face of ever present barriers.
Resilience Amidst Uncertainty
Despite the very real fear permeating life, many Venezuelans have taken a go with the flow attitude to their day-to-day reality. Gilberto Salas, a local entrepreneur, reminds everyone who attends to keep their eyes on the prize. He states, “Tension is surely there, but I’m busy working and trying to make my products, so I don’t think about it.”
Salas reflects a viewpoint shared by many that economic activity is essential for personal and national progress. “My mind is set on working and the nation moves forward by working. I simply hope for a future when it’s companies and entrepreneurs who come to our shores,” he adds.
Others echo these feelings, acknowledging that even during tumultuous political periods, life goes on every day. Ulloa acknowledges the struggle faced by many: “One way or another we must go out, otherwise what are we going to eat? This is our daily bread.”
