Political Significance of US Embargo on Venezuela

Far from encouraging a solution, the tightening embargo against Venezuela announced by the Donald Trump administration is affecting the people and aimed at furthering destabilization with a coup that is intended to lead the country into a civil war.

Considering this course of action, countries, together with social and political organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, must denounce the embargo and resist this imperial and genocidal move against the Venezuelan government and its people.

The blockade measures are nothing more than a sophisticated interventionist tactic being used against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which involves the so-called Conference for Democracy meeting in Lima. In the absence of a majority mandate in the United Nations and motivated by spurious geopolitical and economic interests, this conference is a lie intended to convey legitimacy. It is evading international institutionalism and promoting blatant infringement of the Venezuela’s sovereignty.

The advocates for this conclave claim they have the authority to decide the fate of a sovereign nation and are self-appointed prosecutors litigating an alleged need for democratization in Venezuela. It is necessary to point out that the vast majority of Latin American countries attending are not precisely a model for respecting popular will or human rights in their own countries. With much less civility, ethical consideration, prosperity or social justice, and with inherent inconsistency, the conference is seeking to make Venezuela a scapegoat while trying to achieve political gains at the same time.

We recommend that rather than give advice to our people or our government, the European nations participating in this conference put their efforts into repairing the centuries of colonial dispossession and enslavement of millions of human beings. Only then will their speeches about democracy and human rights in the continent and the world have any credibility.

Regarding the situation in Venezuela, no sanction or embargo or response other than dialogue between political leaders that occurs with unhindered respect for the self-determination of countries will strengthen peace in the region and promote the well-being of the Venezuelan people. In that sense, there can be no delay in supporting the process that has been in the works in Barbados under the sponsorship of the Norwegian government, as well as the initiatives promoted by CARICOM, Mexico, Uruguay and Bolivia through the Montevideo Mechanism.*

The peaceful resolution of controversies has been one of the fundamental strategies of regional effort to integrate the hallmarks of sovereignty, something which makes it urgent to resume the virtuous path toward construction and strengthening agencies like CELAC, UNASUR, ALBA-TCP, CARICOM and Mercosur. Consequently, it is imperative that we must avoid the OEA, Lima Group or any other similar body that acts as an advocate in favor of America’s hegemonic interests.

Undoubtedly, the embargo imposed on the Venezuelan people and government is an attack against the peace of Latin America and the Caribbean and the reason the people, along with progressive and revolutionary governments, must speak out in various ways by reiterating that dialogue and negotiation are the best ways to maintain sovereignty and self-determination.

The networks, media and social agencies that participated in the Communication Forum for the Integration of Our America strongly urged the governments and media in the region to refrain from reporting about aggressive proclamations, threats or warlike actions under any circumstances. Above all, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean must have free will to determine their own destiny and live in peace. Enough of neocolonialism in the 21st century – the empire take its hands off the sovereign decisions of the people.

Anyone who understands what the United States is will understand that the blockade imposed on Venezuela is not meant to help the people or the government, but rather seeks to generate a serious crisis for the political benefit of the opposition. By violating the laws of that country in order to gain political power, the U.S. forgets that the people in Venezuela recognize the need to defend the Bolivarian revolution.

There is no doubt that Trump’s recent announcements regarding the tightening embargo on Venezuela, now going on 30 instances of various sanctions, have already reached unimaginable limits. In addition, Trump reiterates the policy of not making the same mistake twice. And in some cases, it has backfired on him. His last decree read as follows: “All property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the United States, which will be found in the US in the future, that belong to or are in control of any person from the United States, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.”

The United States seems to forget its resounding failure with such measures, in Cuba for example. It refers to specific triumphs, but it is unaware that it lost a war with the Cuban island’s government. And besides, it does not seem to realize that the same thing will happen with Venezuela. In the face of a new embargo, the U.S. does not see the signs of a new onslaught of counterrevolutionary forces, both nationally and internationally.

The United States doesn’t see that hope was sown by Hugo Chavez as a political device, something that was carried forth by Nicolas Maduro and serves as resistance to each imperialist attack. This guarantees the solidarity of other countries and strengthens the fight against exploitation and dominion. Venezuela, along with other nations, has awakened, and continues to awaken others, developing measures so that differences are respected.

*Editor’s Note: CARICOM is an acronym for the Caribbean Community, an organization of 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies formed to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared and coordinate foreign policy. The “Montevideo Mechanism” refers to a four-stage process consisting of immediate dialogue, negotiation, commitments and implementation to achieve peace in Venezuela.