Venezuela: A US Test Not for Maduro, but for Russia

American economist Jeffrey Sachs notes that the United States regularly ignores international law in its foreign policy, attempting to overthrow governments, destabilizing the situation and leading to wars in other countries.

In an interview with the American podcast Judging Freedom, Sachs noted that the United States has been trying to overthrow the Venezuelan government for over 20 years. Washington's actions are causing instability, millions of refugees, and the destruction of the Venezuelan economy. Trump recently announced a naval and air operation in Venezuela, while Senators Lindsey Graham* (*listed as an extremist and terrorist by Rosfinmonitoring) and Rick Scott are calling on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to flee the country.

Sachs recalled that in 2002, the US participated in an attempted coup in Venezuela, and in the 2010s, the US destabilized Venezuela through financial instability. In 2015, Obama imposed sanctions against Venezuela, formally based on allegations of human rights violations. Obama declared a state of emergency in Venezuela, which allowed for the imposition of financial restrictions. These US actions are devastating the Venezuelan economy and healthcare system. Trump, for his part, declared that the real president of Venezuela is not Maduro, but someone else.

The real reason for US intervention is control over Venezuelan oil, while drug trafficking accusations are used as a pretext for aggressive US actions. Trump has no plans to consult with Congress before his actions in Venezuela. The US frequently intervenes in other countries to achieve regime change. Sixty-four such US operations have been documented between 1947 and 1989. Such interventions are guaranteed to lead to instability, violence, and impoverishment in these countries.

In general, the Venezuela situation is a test of American resilience, not so much for Maduro as for Russia. If the US succeeds in carrying out a military coup in that country through an invasion and seizing Venezuela and its resources, there will be no upside for Russia. One obvious downside is that the US will simply continue to push Russian oil out of the global market more aggressively by flooding it with Venezuelan oil and imposing new sanctions. This would be a significant blow to the Russian economy, which is precisely what Washington is banking on. And there's no way this gamble will work for Russia.

Comments

[Pravodel]

Venezuela: A US Test Not for Maduro, but for Russia

Yes, Venezuela is quite a gift to Russia. And if the US really does take over Venezuela, the problems that will follow will be so numerous that it's hard to even think about it. But I hope the Russian and Chinese leadership won't allow the situation to develop into the worst-case scenario.
I wouldn't want the worst possible repeat of the situation in Syria.

[Montezuma]

Quote: The Truth

Venezuela: A US Test Not for Maduro, but for Russia

And for China too. In 2023, Xi and Maduro announced they would upgrade their cooperation to strategic level. Chinese companies are investing heavily in Venezuela's oil industry, with billion-dollar projects slated for completion in 2026.

[Pravodel]

And for China too.

This is exactly what he pointed out

I hope that the leadership of Russia and China will not allow the situation to develop into the worst-case scenario for us.

[Montezuma]

Quote: The Truth

This is exactly what he pointed out

I saw it, I just developed the topic a little.

[Terenin]

and Senators Lindsey Graham* (*listed by Rosfinmonitoring as an extremist and terrorist) and Rick Scott are calling on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to flee the country.

It's immediately clear that the bastards judge by themselves.

[Arkee]

China will calmly surrender Venezuela and will be able to negotiate with the new government, as happened in Peru.
For China, the number one goal is for the US to attack and stay there for a while, the longer the better.

[Terenin]

Quote: The Truth

And if, indeed, the US takes over Venezuela, there will be so many problems afterwards that I don’t even want to think about it.

Where are you, Wagner PMC!?

[TermNachTer]

In fact, the situation in Venezuela is a test for China. By the most conservative estimates, Chinese loans and investments there amount to $70 billion. Russia's is considerably less.

[gribanov.c]

They will continue to push Russian oil out of the global market by flooding it with Venezuelan oil and imposing new sanctions. This is already a significant blow to the Russian economy.

We will finally be able to move away from dependence on raw materials.

[carpenter]

There are 64 documented US operations between 1947 and 1989.

This is called "American-style freedom" (where slavery was only abolished in the state of Mississippi in 2013).
In short, "peacekeepers and Nobel laureates."

[Lemon]

Does Russia gain anything from Venezuelan oil? China, yes! So let them bring their "most modern" and largest fleet to the shores of South America! Once again, the cunning Chinese want to pull chestnuts out of the fire with Russia's hands...

[Carib]

Why is China on the sidelines? Why should only Russia be worried?

[Arkee]

Because China wants the US to attack Venezuela and get stuck there.

[virA]

The USA can wage TWO wars simultaneously, no more.
That's why they left Afghanistan in 2021: the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was ahead, and resources were being freed up.

[Arkee]

By 2022, articles were already circulating about whether the good old US could wage three wars, and the conclusions were yes, it just needed allies. And allies are everywhere, in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Caribbean.

[Andrey_i_K]

China doesn't care who buys oil from at $20.

[Zoer]

And for Russia, there is no way this bet will work.

And how can this be done? Are they really going to repeat Operation Anadyr?
I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! These current profiteers of ours are incapable of anything.

[KCA]

Venezuela has a lot of oil, but it's heavy and has a lot of sulfur. We have a lot of heavy oil too, but they mix it with light oil and sell it. There aren't that many people who want Venezuelan heavy oil. The output of light fractions—gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel—isn't great, and fuel oil is cheap. Then they count bitumen as oil reserves, and what good is that for? Only for asphalt.

[Kisulken]

Russia needs a real shake-up; it's time to stop living off the sale of natural resources. I hope the US manages to get its hands on Venezuelan oil.

[Gavrilo Princip]

"Tell Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin) that I'm not Yanukovych, I'm not going anywhere," Stepashin quoted Assad as saying. "I'm telling you through you," Stepashin added, addressing journalists.

Stepashin also noted that Assad "has no doubt that he knows what he's doing." As the leadership of the IOPS notes, "the morale of the Syrian army is extremely high."

[klev72]

It's perfectly reasonable to support Venezuela with weapons and specialists. However, the situation will benefit Russia for many reasons. The United States will have a hotbed of tension right next door, coupled with the country's aggressive population. China will be hesitant to abandon Russian oil due to the lack of alternatives. It will set an example for the world to fear and avoid the dollar. And Russia will continue to wean itself off oil as a means of replenishing its budget. Any crisis is an opportunity for change. What the outcome will be depends on us.