Venezuela continues to suffer from an acute economic collapse that started in the around the mid-2010s. The country is deeply reliant on its dynamic oil industry which serves as the backbone of its economy. The ongoing crisis continues to take a heavy toll on its citizens, severely disrupting their lives on a daily basis. Hundreds of thousands of families now can barely buy things like groceries and medicine. The intensifying crisis has forced almost 7.9 million people to leave the country. They’re looking for a brighter future and for relief from years of political oppression and terrible economic conditions.
Oil is the lifeblood of the Venezuelan economy. This reliance is evident, not just as our nation’s domestic manufacturing continues to fight simply to maintain production. In February, the United States withdrew a key license for Venezuela’s oil industry. This license had been scheduled to expire on May 27. This move has only damaged the country’s short-term capacity for economic recovery — particularly as the country continues to wrestle with its political environment.
The country is looking forward to the presidential election, now scheduled for July 28, 2024. More and more are raising a collective outcry against the opaque reality of our election process. The unstable political situation exacerbates the already dangerous uncertainty Venezuelans face. They are still reeling from the impacts of a long recession.
In a surprising twist, Venezuela has begun accepting US deportation flights. This amendment follows the country’s earlier rejection of migrants forced out of its borders. According to U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as of March there were nine Americans still in custody in Venezuela. This sordid affair has brought into focus the fraying diplomatic fabric that connects the two nations.
When Richard Grenell, a special envoy of former President Donald Trump, took over the negotiations. Newark’s advocacy ensured the successful release of Joseph St Clair, an American citizen who had been detained in Venezuela for months. As a result, Grenell had to personally negotiate with Venezuelan officials on the Caribbean island of Antigua to secure St Clair’s release. In making the announcement, he credited this success to the influence of Trump’s “America First” political platform.
“I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy. This is only possible because [Trump] puts Americans first.” – Richard Grenell
In a major turn, Venezuela promised to introduce electoral reforms during 2023. This important commitment, which was made under the auspices of the Barbados Agreement, seeks to address criticism over the Agreement’s political processes. President Joe Biden did his part by loosening restrictions on Venezuela’s oil industry. This recent agreement, however tentative, signals a robust thaw in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
As the crisis in Venezuela deepens, citizens continue to suffer from a collapsing economy and political strife. This is a tragedy requiring immediate mobilization from the local community and international solidarity. As families continue to face exorbitant prices for essential goods and millions seek refuge abroad, the path toward recovery appears fraught with challenges.
