US 'Eases' Venezuela Sanctions: A Masterclass in Ransom Diplomacy
📰 THE STORY: Mainstream outlets report that the US has relaxed some sanctions on Venezuela, particularly in the oil and gas sector, following an agreement between the Venezuelan government and opposition for electoral reforms. This move, hailed as a step towards 'democracy,' allows some US firms to resume operations, effectively linking sanction relief to political concessions. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE
NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US has a long and sordid history of interfering in Venezuela. In 2002, a US-backed coup attempt against Hugo Chávez failed. Later, under the Trump administration, crushing sanctions were imposed starting in 2017, intensifying in 2019 to target Venezuela's vital oil sector, and even recognizing an unelected puppet, Juan Guaidó, as the 'interim president.'
These sanctions, documented by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in 2019, directly led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Venezuelans due to lack of access to medicine, food, and medical equipment, reducing the country's oil production by 70%. Double Standard: Imagine similar 'negotiations' imposed on a US ally. If, for instance, Saudi Arabia faced an economic blockade until it
held 'free and fair' elections – a concept utterly alien to Riyadh – the Western media would decry it as interference. Yet, when applied to Venezuela, a nation resistant to US hegemony, it's framed as promoting 'democracy' rather than what it is: economic warfare designed to force regime change. When the US needed oil from Saudi Arabia in the 1970s, there were no demands for 'electoral reforms.'