Abstract

Relations with Venezuela play a significant role in the US policy towards Latin America. Venezuela is an important resource state and a promising sales market, therefore it attracts the attention not only of the United States, but also of other important geopolitical players such as the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, which view the situation in Venezuela as an opportunity to challenge the United States and to advance their regional interests in Central and Eastern Europe and the South China Sea and Taiwan, respectively. Therefore, the crisis that has developed in Venezuela is acquiring geopolitical significance, because the state is becoming an area of confrontation between the leading powers. The objective of the article is to study and analyze the geopolitical dimension of bilateral relations between the United States and Venezuela at the current phase and find out how these relations affect the geopolitical situation on the regional and global scale, as well as predict possible scenarios for their further development. The article provides an analysis of the American-Venezuelan political and economic relations at the point and concludes that the United States have imposed a number of sanctions and restrictions that put significant pressure on the Venezuelan economy. Having studied the role and position of the United States in resolving the Venezuelan crisis, the authors have indicated that the US support J. Guaido and are working on a plan to resolve the political crisis. The study also identifies the role of third parties in relations between states, in particular the strategy of the Russian Federation regarding the Venezuelan crisis. Attention is also focused on the fact that the events in Venezuela caused the migration crisis – a significant geopolitical problem and requires the attention of not only the United States, but also the world community. Taking into account the geopolitical interests of the United States in Venezuela and concerns about the emergence of global geopolitical players in the state, the most favorable way for the United States would be to strengthen its role in the negotiation process to resolve the Venezuelan crisis, as well as join coordinated actions with the Lima Group.

Highlights

  • Introduction and Recent DevelopmentsThis report, divided into three main sections, examines the political and economic situation in Venezuela and U.S.-Venezuelan relations

  • Historically the United States had close relations with Venezuela, a major oil supplier, friction in bilateral relations increased under the leftist, populist government of President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), who died in 2013 after battling cancer

  • After an appeal by Pope Francis, the government and most of the opposition agreed to talks mediated by the Vatican along with the former presidents of the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Panama and the head of the Union of South American Nations

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Summary

Summary

Historically the United States had close relations with Venezuela, a major oil supplier, friction in bilateral relations increased under the leftist, populist government of President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), who died in 2013 after battling cancer. In December 2015, the MUD initially won a two-thirds supermajority in National Assembly elections, a major defeat for the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). For much of 2016, opposition efforts were focused on recalling President Maduro through a national referendum, but the government slowed down the referendum process and suspended it indefinitely in October. The two sides issued a declaration in November expressing firm commitment to a peaceful, respectful, and constructive coexistence They issued a statement that included an agreement to improve the supply of food and medicine and to resolve the situation of the three National Assembly representatives. The Obama Administration continued to speak out about the democratic setback and poor human rights situation, called repeatedly for the release of political prisoners, expressed deep concern about the humanitarian situation, and strongly supported dialogue. The Administration supported the efforts Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro to focus attention on Venezuela’s democratic setback

Congressional Action
Introduction and Recent Developments
Background
Efforts Toward Dialogue
The political and economic situation in Venezuela at a Glance
Efforts to Recall President Maduro
Vatican Prompts Renewed Efforts at Dialogue
Economic and Social Conditions
Obama Administration Policy
Democracy and Human Rights Concerns
Committee to Protect Journalists Foro Penal Venezolano Human Rights Watch
Energy Issues
Counternarcotics Issues
Findings
Terrorism Issues

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