Advertisement
Donald Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but China, Russia and his own diplomatic isolation tie his hands
- If the US wants to help the people suffering under the Maduro dictatorship, it should mend fences with allies its own president has offended, especially in Latin America
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
The US announced enhanced sanctions against Caracas last week targeting Venezuela’s central bank, cutting off its access to the US financial system. The move, intended to further isolate Nicolas Maduro’s regime, comes after months of tough talk to end his grip on power. More sanctions are expected in May to further curtail Venezuela’s trade in oil, their main export and foreign currency earner.
President Donald Trump and his National Security Adviser John Bolton have continued to call for Maduro’s ouster, repeatedly saying that “all options” are on the table. While grandstanding for adoring crowds may be Trump’s speciality, Maduro’s generals and allies have not been moved by the threat of armed conflict, especially Russia and China, who continue to back him despite the increasing risk of defaults on tens of billions of dollars in loans.
Trump has very limited, if any, “hard” military options due to both conditions on the ground and domestic and international political constraints. Invasion, blockade or arming an alternate military force of defectors are extremely unlikely. If the administration is truly interested in supporting Venezuelan democracy, they are going to have to abandon their go-it-alone strategy and build strong alliances to assist in ending Maduro’s destructive rule. That means toning down the warlike rhetoric.
Advertisement
In a reversal of goodwill shown for decades, perceptions of the US among countries around the world have plummeted during Trump’s tumultuous presidency. According to a February 2019 Pew Research Centre report, 45 per cent of nations surveyed regard US power and influence as a “major threat”. The highest percentages, and largest changes in negative sentiment, came from Germany, France, Mexico and Brazil.
Advertisement
Trump also targeted major trading partners and allies with unilateral tariffs, including Canada, Mexico, the EU and Japan. Most recently, he’s rescinded aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador over illegal immigration concerns. For the past 2½ years, the White House has done nothing but excoriate Latin America on immigration issues. That’s done little to endear the region to US concerns about democracy in Venezuela.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x