James P. Rubin, and Darjan Vujica
The visuals were undeniably cinematic with Nicolas Maduro, the former president of Venezuela, handcuffed on a tarmac, as the decisive climax to a years-long pressure campaign. For a White House that prizes television-ready victories, the raid certainly demonstrated the United States’ power to dictate events in our hemisphere. Yet, as the initial high fades, Washington is waking up to a more sobering reality. By taking such direct action, the Donald Trump administration has now assumed responsibility for the political, economic, and security consequences that follow.
As the cliché goes, only time will tell whether US policy in Venezuela will be successful. In the meantime, other events are taking place that demonstrate why Venezuela should not be the overwhelming focus of American diplomacy in the region. The administration risks becoming consumed by the mechanics of a post-Maduro Venezuela—managing transition councils, securing oil fields, and navigating the unpredictable fallout. All of this will demand extraordinary time and resources. While Washington is bogged down in Caracas, Beijing is quietly taking over the rest of the continent, unchallenged.
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