The Situation in Venezuela

The editors of the Washington Post remark on the situation in Venezuela:

The Maduro regime has violated human rights on a massive scale, leaving hundreds of peaceful opponents dead, and it has led Venezuela into economic catastrophe. Millions of Venezuelans have fled to other countries, including hundreds of thousands to the United States. Having first been elected in 2013, Mr. Maduro forfeited democratic legitimacy in January 2016, when he purported to deprive the National Assembly of its powers because the opposition had won control the previous month. He then manipulated the political system to create a parallel puppet legislature and, on May 20, 2018, engineered his reelection through a flawed process from which both international observers and leading opposition figures were effectively barred. His inauguration as president for a new term in January, in defiance of warnings from neighboring Latin democracies, prompted Mr. Guaidó, leader of the National Assembly, to declare the presidential office vacant and himself its interim occupant, as provided in the Venezuelan Constitution — and supported by more than 50 countries, including the United States.

or, in other words, Mr. Maduro has been conducting a military coup against the government and people of Venezuela. Mr. Guaidó’s encouragement of popular uprising then is, at most, a counter-coup.

How should the U. S. respond?

The Trump administration has backed Mr. Guaidó, including — appropriately — through the use of tough new economic sanctions aimed at pressuring the Maduro regime to cede power, or persuading the Venezuelan military to oust him itself. Possibly, Tuesday’s events are a sign that Mr. Trump’s policy is succeeding; or, possibly, that there is nothing left of it but desperate measures. A hopeful sign was the immediate and unequivocal backing Mr. Guaidó received from six South American nations, including Venezuela’s four largest neighbors: Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru. By working closely with these countries, and not by intervening militarily, the Trump administration may increase the chances that Mr. López’s declaration Tuesday — “It’s time to conquer freedom” — proves out.

which you may notice is precisely the course of action I have recommended in the matter. The best thing we can do is to maintain a low profile. Let Venezuela’s neighbors take the lead. We may or may not be the “indispensable nation” but we’re not the only one.

South America is a real place with real countries that have real interests and where real people live. They are not merely appendages of the United States. Letting them take responsibility in a situation in which they have greater stakes than we is good for them and good for us.