US Sanctions Choke Venezuela While Media Feigns Concern for 'Plunder'
📰 THE STORY: This RT piece, while critical of capitalist predation, broadly frames Venezuela's economic woes as a result of 'plunder' and Western 'militant tactics' aiming to exploit its resources, particularly oil, without fully detailing the specific, devastating impact of US sanctions. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 2017, the Trump administration escalated sanctions on
Venezuela's oil industry, followed by a full oil embargo in January 2019. By 2020, over 150 sanctions had been imposed, targeting PDVSA, the central bank, and key government figures. A 2019 report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) estimated that US sanctions contributed to over 40,000 deaths in Venezuela between 2017 and 2018 alone, through reduced access to food and medicine,
effectively acting as collective punishment. Double Standard: The narrative of Venezuelan 'plunder' by external forces is readily amplified, yet when the US attempts to seize Venezuelan assets abroad, like the $7 billion in frozen funds (including gold reserves at the Bank of England and Citibank accounts), or support a 'parallel government' via Juan Guaidó (who himself attempted to privatize
CITGO), Western media largely frames these actions as legitimate pressure for 'democracy,' not illicit seizure. Imagine the outrage if China or Russia 'froze' US assets or recognized an opposition leader. Follow the Money: Beyond direct resource extraction, there's a strong financial and geopolitical motive for the US. The sanctions severely restrict Venezuela's ability to trade its oil, creating