Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida criticized the Biden administration’s approach to Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, accusing them of strengthening his authoritarian regime. Rubio argued that the administration’s handling of negotiations with Maduro has emboldened him and allowed him to crack down on dissent within the country. He believes that the people surrounding President Biden and Vice President Harris are naive in thinking that diplomatic solutions can be reached with authoritarian leaders like Maduro. Rubio emphasized that negotiating with such leaders is unlikely to result in a positive outcome, especially when they are focused on maintaining their grip on power.
Following the late July presidential election in Venezuela, which was controversially won by Maduro, anti-government protests erupted in response to allegations of election fraud. Despite pre-election polling showing strong support for the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, Maduro and his party claimed victory with a narrow margin. The protests led to violent clashes between protestors and police sent by Maduro to clear the streets. While Maduro has asked for an audit of the election results, many believe that the judiciary in Venezuela is compromised and unlikely to deliver a fair assessment. The Biden administration has declared Gonzalez the rightful winner based on overwhelming evidence of his victory.
The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has supported Gonzalez as the winner of the Venezuelan election, citing extensive evidence of his victory. The State Department emphasized that Maduro’s claim of victory lacked any supporting evidence, and international allies and partners also did not recognize his win. The U.S. had previously brokered the Barbados Agreement between Maduro and opposition parties, which aimed to secure free and fair elections in exchange for sanctions relief. However, Maduro reneged on the agreement by suspending primaries shortly after signing it, leading the U.S. to allow the sanctions relief to expire in April.
Sen. Lindsey Graham has called on Israel to take military action against Iranian oil refineries, further complicating the situation in the region. The National Security Council has disputed characterizing the Barbados Agreement as a quid pro quo, stating that the Biden administration made adjustments to its sanctions policy to encourage Maduro to follow through on commitments made in the agreement. Venezuelan experts and activists have criticized the Biden administration for its perceived lack of a coherent strategy towards Venezuela, accusing it of relying on empty promises from Maduro and allowing his regime to consolidate power domestically and internationally.
Jorge Jraissati, a Venezuelan foreign policy expert, lamented the Biden administration’s approach to Venezuela, describing it as erratic and lacking a clear strategy. He called for a more robust foreign policy doctrine that leverages American influence and expertise to support efforts to bring freedom to Venezuela. Jraissati stressed the importance of engaging the brightest minds in the U.S., including businessmen, technologists, and experts, to contribute to a more effective strategy for addressing the crisis in Venezuela. The State Department did not respond to requests for comment on the situation in Venezuela, leaving concerns about the Biden administration’s handling of the issue unresolved.
