Why venezuela should be a u s foreign policy priority

Why venezuela should be a u s foreign policy priority

Prologue

The crisis brewing up in Oil Rich nation Venezuela is one of its kind. Being part of OPEC and dependent on just OIL to a huge extent for its economy, Venezuela was a melting pot waiting to burst.

Hence it's a case of single item dependent economy which needed a comprehensive understanding and meticulous treatment by its government. Hence in this highly globalised and interdependent world order studying of the Venezuelan Crisis becomes very important.

What options are required to help it sustain on it's own must be examined. Policy shifts in other Oil rich countries like UAE, SAUDI ARAB, IRAN etc must then become a point of observation. How other countries are using means to diversify there economic interests in areas like tourism, industry etc. become even more relevant in such situation.

Although the article speaks about the crisis from United States point of view yet it's significant for India as well because we as a developing nation are far too much dependent on imported oil for our ever growing energy requirements.

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While North Korean threats involving missiles and nuclear armament ring louder and clearer than ever before, a major crisis in our neighbourhood cannot be overlooked. Venezuela’s collapse is already producing security, financial, and economic risks for the United States and could trigger region-wide consequences if not stopped immediately.

Unified international action to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro and his inner circle is necessary, but a military intervention would be counterproductive and needlessly put service members at risk, as well as the Venezuelan people. Although President Trump stated last week that he will not rule out a military option for Venezuela, thus fuelling Maduro’s rhetoric and nationalist posturing, he did put the Venezuelan crisis in the right context, as did Vice President Pence during his recent tour in Latin America: Venezuela’s collapse is a top priority for the United States, and we will not rest until Venezuela’s democracy is restored. Understanding the urgency and effectively helping to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro is important, but a more important priority perhaps is to understand why the United States should be concerned and proactive in the face of this crisis.

The following are key reasons why the Venezuelan crisis and an ultimate peaceful solution is important for the United States.

• Proximity to the U.S. Mainland

A stronger and safer region is in U.S. best interests. Venezuela, only about 1,300 miles from Florida, is going through an institutional and judicial meltdown that threatens the stability of the region. In the past, U.S. leadership in security and development has been key for the region. Plan Colombia, which has progressed to the post–peace accord implementation stage, has been one of the most successful U.S. foreign policy initiatives in the Americas.

Venezuela has the natural resources, both oil and uranium, and the willingness to engage in arms trade and nuclear cooperation with countries that do not align with U.S. interests. In 2010, former president Hugo Chavez signed agreements with Russia to start developing a nuclear reactor. The Nuclear Threat Initiative states that, although there is no available evidence that shows the current government is interested in acquiring weapons of mass destruction, there are some proliferation concerns. China not only has over $60 billion in loans and investments in Venezuela, but also sees Venezuela as a strategic location.

• The Humanitarian Crisis: A Moral Obligation

Venezuelans lost an average of 19 pounds each over the past year due to a lack of food. Severe shortages of food and other goods make it difficult for most people to obtain adequate nutrition and cover their families’ basic needs. Medicines have become luxury items for all except those in power. Hospitals lack key instruments and drugs, such as stretchers and morphine. Epidemics, like malaria, have risen exponentially, by over 300 percent compared to the 1990s. But the government lacks the political will and capacity to deal with the current health crisis.

• Venezuela’s Regional Influence

There are serious tactical realities in the Venezuela-Cuba nexus. The Cuban government remains an ideological authoritarian regime with a presence throughout Venezuela and the region. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) was created with Venezuela’s oil, and a heavy dose of Cuba’s ideology, to consolidate regional political integration based on a vision of social welfare and “anti-imperialism.”

Historically, Venezuela has been a reliable partner for the United States when it comes to oil shipments. Although U.S. oil dependency has decreased due to increased domestic oil production, as well as the development of alternative energy resources, Venezuela remains a country with the resources and proximity to be a strategic trade partner with the United States and a privileged destination for U.S. investments if the crisis comes to an end.

Conclusion

The July 30 illegitimate constituent assembly, which is imposing a totalitarian “communal” system in Venezuela, is currently taking new actions that would change Venezuela dramatically. However, Maduro lacks support from the vast majority of the people and the international community, aside from Cuba and a few Caribbean nations who accept copious amounts of oil. Maduro’s last line of defense, the military, might also be getting cold feet on whether to continue to support a regime that is pushing the country to the brink of collapse. The international community still has the opportunity to pressure Maduro and help Venezuela find a path toward freedom and rule of law, but the window of opportunity is closing.

Moises Rendon is an associate fellow and associate director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions.