US Continues Pressure Campaign Against Maduro to Prevent his Reinstatement

The US is ramping up pressure against Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro as he prepares to pronounce himself as the next Venezuelan President on January 10th. 

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke to President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to express the US’ support in their efforts to uphold their electoral victory in last July’s presidential elections. 

The State Department explained Secretary Blinken spoke to President-elect Gonzalez and Machado via phone call to “reaffirm the United States’ commitment to supporting the peaceful restoration of democracy in Venezuela and release of all unjustly detained political prisoners.”

Last week, the US embassy for Venezuela criticized Maduro for his undemocratic practices and Human Rights violations. 

Maduro has repeatedly employed a series of criminal and violent tactics to persecute political opponents. 

According to a United Nation’s report, these include arbitrary deprivations of life, arbitrary detentions, short-term forced disappearances, acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as sexual and gender-based violence.

Venezuelan citizens have futilely attempted to resist Maduro’s regime through public demonstrations and elections manipulated by Maduro-controlled institutions. 

Venezuela’s elections followed failed negotiations between Venezuela’s government and President Joe Biden’s administration over electoral assurances in exchange for sanctions relief.

Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred opposition leader Machado from participating in the same.

However, Machado invested her political capital into former Venezuelan Ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.

Subsequently, Gonzalez was forced to seek political asylum in Spain after the Maduro regime threatened to arrest him.

Gonzalez has recently assured supporters he intends to return to Venezuela on Presidential inauguration day to demand he be inaugurated as Venezuela’s rightful president. 

Now, all eyes are turning to President-elect Donald Trump in anticipation of his policies towards Venezuela.

Some reports suggest he may be facing pressure to continue Biden’s conciliatory approach in order to secure immigration enforcement in Venezuela.

Meanwhile, however, President Trump’s cabinet picks, such as Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, have lobbied for a hardline approach to Venezuela with the ultimate goal of a democratic transition.