The Capture of Nicolás Maduro: A Fait Accompli
In a surprising turn of events, Nicolás Maduro has been captured in Venezuela. The international public discourse quickly shifted to the legality of the US intervention. However, the fact precedes the argument; the operation has occurred and cannot be undone—it’s a fait accompli. Beyond the legal interpretations and reservations imposed by the post-operation scenario, Maduro’s fall is good news.
The Oil Factor: A Geopolitical Chess Game
In recent hours, the conversation has revolved around oil. For nationalist leftists both in and outside Mexico, the explanation is simple, singular, and immediate: the US aims to seize Venezuela’s oil. While oil is undoubtedly important, Washington doesn’t need it for supply reasons; instead, it’s about power.
- Venezuela is currently a testing ground for a harsher, more transactional, and openly interventionist hemispheric order.
- The objective isn’t to appropriate the oil but to deny access to others, especially China.
- More than 80% of Venezuela’s exported oil goes to Chinese refineries. Russia complements this, not due to ideological affinity, but because sanctions cleared the way for Russian and Chinese investors’ operations.
The control of Venezuela responds more to strategic competition logic than any romantic narrative about ideological, historical, or democracy-defense affinities. It’s pure geopolitics.
Mexico’s Predictable Response
In Mexico, the reaction was predictable. Defending non-intervention and invoking the Estrada Doctrine and the UN Charter, as President Claudia Sheinbaum did, is a prudent, justified, and understandable stance. However, her mentor’s reappearance with an openly anti-US discourse doesn’t help. Anti-American sentiment remains a powerful and effective force in Mexican politics.
The truly regrettable aspect is the moral confusion. Rejection of unilateral intervention differs from defending a dictator. Support conga lines outside the US embassy in Mexico City reveal a troubling narrow-mindedness. In broad sectors of the Mexican left, international politics analysis remains limited and reactive. Condemning interventionism doesn’t absolve authoritarianism.
Looking Beyond Geopolitics: The Venezuelan People’s Future
Ultimately, beyond strategic calculations, what should matter is the Venezuelan people’s fate. Those who remain, those who left, and those hoping to return. May this new year be more than a geopolitical chess piece movement; it should reopen the long-closed democratic horizon.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Why is the capture of Nicolás Maduro significant? A: His fall is good news, as it marks the end of an oppressive regime in Venezuela.
- Q: What is the primary motivation behind US intervention in Venezuela? A: It’s about asserting power and denying China access to Venezuelan oil, rather than securing oil supplies.
- Q: How will the capture of Maduro impact Venezuela’s oil industry? A: Although Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, reactivating the industry will require time, clear rules, and massive investments due to devastated infrastructure and ongoing political uncertainty.
- Q: How did Mexico respond to the US intervention in Venezuela? A: Mexico’s response was predictable, with leaders like President Claudia Sheinbaum advocating for non-intervention and invoking international law. However, the resurgence of anti-US rhetoric from prominent figures highlights the enduring influence of anti-American sentiment in Mexican politics.
- Q: What is the moral confusion surrounding Maduro’s capture? A: The distinction lies between rejecting unilateral intervention and defending a dictator. Many on the Mexican left struggle to separate these positions, conflating opposition to intervention with support for authoritarian regimes.
