The seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. officials is raising serious questions about American intentions in the South American nation.
U.S. forces conducted air strikes on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on the weekend, capturing the president and his wife.
The U.S. has long sought out Maduro, accusing him of narco-terrorism, charges he’s reportedly set to face in New York, but Venezuela is also has some of the world’s largest oil reserves, estimated at more than 300 billion barrels..
President Donald Trump says the United States is now “in charge” of Venezuela, and will run the country until there is what he calls a “proper” transition of power.
While many in Venezuela are celebrating Maduro’s seizure, the action has raised serious questions.
Dalhousie political scientist Lori Turnbull says it’s clear that Donald Trump, who has openly mused about Columbia and Greenland, has little respect for sovereignty, which is cause for concern, particularly as it relates to situations like China’s interest in Taiwan.
She says the U.S. move in Venezuela could set the stage for the redesign of the world geopolitically. “This is a total shift in the world order if this is what he gets away with.”
Venezuela’s oil reserves are another important part of the equation, and how that affects Canada’s trade leverage with the U.S. remains to be seen says Turnbull.
She suggests it puts Canada “in a miserable position in terms of negotiating CUSMA and trying to have a reasonable conversation with this person about what Canada brings to the table in terms of oil.”
