- Capital: Caracas
- Population: 28.43 million (2019)
- Government type: Federal Presidential Republic
- President: Disputed between Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó since January 2019
- GDP per Capita: 1,739 US dollars (2020)
- Majority Language/s: Spanish
- Majority Religion/s: Roman Catholic
- Global Freedom Score: 14 (not free)
History of Relationship with the US
Venezuelan relations with the United States began at the same time as Colombia within the united political entity Gran Colombia and, like Colombia, continued after secession from the block. From 1902 to 1903 European powers implemented a naval blockade against Venezuela due to outstanding debts that the government refused to pay back. Despite statements made by President James Monroe that maintained US intolerance for European intervention in Latin America, the United States did not choose to intervene or to aid Venezuela in this crisis.
In 1948, a military leader by the name of Pérez Jiménez staged a coup and took control of the Venezuelan government. Following the coup, foreign investment grew from US oil companies with support from Jimenez’s administration. Even though the US had a positive diplomatic relationship with this regime, the dictatorship was also responsible for the torture and disappearance of thousands of Venezuelans.
Hugo Chavez’s presidency began in 1999 and he quickly became one of Latin America’s most notable leaders in the early 21st century. His presidency was of foreign policy interest (and concern) to the United States due to his socialist policies that were incompatible with US foreign policy goals in Latin America. His government assumed control of Venezuela’s oil fields from foreign corporations and implemented policies including raising royalties for foreign firms. These actions challenged US economic interests in Venezuela. Much to the US’ dismay, Chavez also formed a public friendship with Cuba, further distancing the US and Venezuela diplomatically. Chavez kept the United States at an arm’s length, even refusing military and economic aid at times. Relations with Chavez worsened following a brief coup in 2002 which allegedly received US support. Despite a tense and distrustful diplomatic relationship between Chavez and the acting US presidents, economic relations continued between the two countries, and the US continually bought Venezuelan oil throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. However, tensions worsened still under the Maduro presidency and since 2014 the United States has imposed strict sanctions against Venezuela, ceasing any oil trade between the two countries.
Key US Foreign Policy Considerations
Venezuela is in political, economic, and humanitarian disarray. Thus, many US foreign policy concerns address this multidimensional crisis.
In the late 2010s, the acting Maduro government made efforts to consolidate power, ultimately creating a contested political system with both Maduro and Juan Guaidó, leader of the opposition, laying claim to the presidency. The US, concerned with Maduro’s authoritarian leanings and human rights abuses, has supported Juan Guaidó as interim president in an effort to promote the return of free and fair elections in Venezuela. The political crisis in Venezuela has led to generalized violence and humanitarian disaster throughout the country. As a strong opponent to the actions taken by Maduro and his administration, the United States has also implemented a series of unilateral sanctions against those within the administration benefitting from US trade. Most notably, the US has implemented strict sanctions on the state-owned oil company which in the past has made up around 90% of Venezuela’s total revenue. Sanctions have not succeeded in pressuring Maduro’s government to give up control. US sanctions have also garnered widespread criticism due to their illegality per international law. According to Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, sanctions are only to be implemented under UN Security Council decisions. There have also been concerns about the human impacts of these sanctions, which has further exacerbated the economic crisis within the country.
However, the United States has also provided monetary assistance to aid Venezuelans experiencing the devastating effects of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian conditions in Venezuela are characterized by human rights violations (including alleged crimes against humanity perpetrated by Maduro and his supporters), a health crisis (collapse of the healthcare system and shortages in critical supplies), food insecurity, lack of access to fuel and electricity, and high rates of crime and insecurity. The United States government has allocated more than $1 billion dollars of aid to help Venezuelans both within the country and those living elsewhere as migrants. The US has provided monetary aid in order to fund programs geared toward improving quality of life for Venezuelans. Such programs involve improvements in access to basic necessities, such as food, water, and healthcare.
As a result of the ongoing generalized violence and humanitarian crisis, Venezuela has been experiencing a mass exodus of its population as millions of Venezuelans flee to neighboring countries. Colombia and Brazil have been major destinations for many Venezuelans, due to their proximity as well as relatively open immigration policies, which also recognize most Venezuelans as refugees. The US has also seen an increase of Venezuelan migrants, which has also garnered controversy and criticism in terms of policies or lack thereof to provide refuge to Venezuelans who cannot return to their homes. President Trump refused to implement any sort of special protective status for migrants from Venezuela for the majority of his presidency, only implementing a Deferred Enforced Departure program for Venezuelans January 20th, 2021, the final day of his presidential term. The protections under DED were expanded by President Biden with the creation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans already residing in the United States. This status, a measure taken in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, further protects Venezuelans residing in the US from deportation and permits them to get employment authorization in the United States. Unfortunately, this status does not apply to Venezuelan asylum seekers who still experience immense difficulties in immigrating to the US.
