Good riddance to Maduro but what next?
Trump’s claim the U.S. will ‘run’ oil-rich Venezuela until there’s a safe transition of power raises the spectre of previous regime change disasters
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U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise military intervention in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and transporting them to the U.S. where they will face charges in New York of narco-terrorism conspiracy and other crimes is the good news.
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Maduro is a murderous thug who headed an illegitimate government.
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As Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand posted on X in the wake of the U.S. military’s large-scale strike on Venezuela:
“Since 2019 when Canada closed its embassy in Venezuela, we have refused to recognize any legitimacy of the Maduro regime and opposed its repression of the Venezuelan people, including its persecution of dissenters and particularly political leaders opposed to the regime …
“Canada calls on all parties to respect international law and we stand with the people of Venezuela and their desire to live in a peaceful and democratic society.”
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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was definitive in his support of Trump’s move, posting on X:
“Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narco-terrorist and socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, who should live out his days in prison.
“The legitimate winner of the most recent Venezuelan elections, Edmundo Gonzalez, should take office along with the courageous hero and voice of the Venezuelan people, Maria Corina Machado.
“Down with socialism. Long live freedom.”
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When Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October while living in hiding from the Maduro regime, she dedicated it “to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support for our cause.”
She called Trump’s military intervention the arrival of the “HOUR OF FREEDOM for Venezuelans.
The issue is what comes next.
Trump’s statement that the U.S. is “going to run” oil-rich Venezuela until there’s a safe transition of power raises the spectre of previous regime change disasters such as the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
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Surprisingly, Trump downplayed the possibility of Machado taking a leading role in the new Venezuelan government.
“I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,” Trump said, adding “she doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.”
He said he intends to work with Maduro’s vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez, but she described Maduro’s capture as “barbaric,” and a “kidnapping” and demanded his release.
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