Tag Archives: Venezuela

A leftist candidate won a close election in a South American country, threatening US interests in the region. The US president asked the CIA to "make the economy scream" to undermine governance and bring regime change, even if by violent means.I am referring, of course, to Salvador Allende's election in Chile, and Richard Nixon's reaction, which eventually led to Augusto Pinochet's coup, one of the most bloody in the troubled history of the region. The reelection of Nicolas Maduro last...

Ratcheting up economic warfare. The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on four Venezuelans and three Florida-based companies under a program meant to pressure Caracas over what the United States sees as its heavy-handed tactics to suppress political opposition.... ReutersU.S. targets four individuals, three companies in Venezuela sanctions move

Neoliberal forces have been rounding on Mr Maduro’s socialist government.The European Union demanded last week that Venezuela abandon the elections. citing concerns over transparency and democracy. The International Monetary Foundation also issued a motion of censure against Venezuela last week for failing to provide it with data relating to economic performance, including import and export figures.… But Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the country had one of the most audited...

The United States urged regional leaders on Saturday to take stronger steps to isolate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as it joined a declaration condemning the worsening humanitarian crisis and political repression in the South American nation.… “The United States of America will not stand idly by as Venezuela crumbles,” Pence said in a speech. “Every free nation gathered here must take stronger action to isolate the Maduro regime. We must all stand with our brothers and sisters...

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has stepped up its efforts at “regime change” in Venezuela.... Gunboat diplomacy in new garb. Why does the US care about Venezuela? Oil, what else? CounterpunchStill Meddling in VenezuelaMark Weisbrot

American lawyer and historian, Alfred de Zayas, an expert in the field of human rights, warned about the use of the term humanitarian crisis to intervene in Venezuela and overthrow the current government.Alfred de Zayas, the independent expert of the United Nations (UN) on the Promotion of an International Democratic and Equitable Order, concluded after his visit to Venezuela that this country does not suffer a humanitarian crisis, unlike countries in Africa or Asia where there are wars and...

More than two months after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced his intention to launch the world's first state-sponsored cryptocurrency to try and help Venezuela raise some badly needed foreign capital, the Petro - backed by 5 billion barrels of oil that are still waiting to be pumped out of a local oilfield - is now a reality.... To fuel demand, the government guarantees that it will accept the Petro as payment for taxes and fees. It has also said it will seek to promote the...

Gunboat diplomacy.Naked KeynesianismTalk of military intervention in Venezuela is absurdMatias Vernengo | Associate Professor of Economics, Bucknell University

In early February, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarked on a Latin America tour aimed at promoting "democratic security". But just before he set off on his trip, he speculated on the possibility of a military coup in Venezuela. "In the history of Venezuela and South American countries, it is often times that the military is the agent of change when things are so bad and the leadership can no longer serve the people," he said at an event at the University of Texas at Austin....

 It doesn't take a crystal ball to see where this is going. The conventional wisdom reinforced institutionally is that Venezuela is "bankrupt." Even though the bolivar is nominally pegged to the dollar, Venezuela  is potentially a currency sovereign and has huge energy reserves. When the ruble was under attack, Russia floated the currency. Venezuela can make that choice, too. So the claim that Venezuela is "running out of money," or becoming "insolvent" is bogus.The obvious (neoliberal,...