Venezuela continues to be mired in the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in Latin America’s recent history. With Maduro beginning a second term, prospects for a way out are uncertain. But two events have pointed to a potential for change.
With 19 votes in favor, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) agreed “to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro’s new term as of the 10th of January of 2019.”
Turkey’s recent flirtations with Venezuela as the U.S. tries to isolate the rogue government is another example of Erdogan’s tactic of trying to gain political bargaining chips in Ankara’s bilateral relations with Washington.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s presence at AMLO’s inauguration will be a test of Mexico’s future commitment to calling out human rights violations in the region.
Direct military intervention in Venezuela is obviously a controversial topic, yet there should be no controversy surrounding the credible appearance of commitment to military action.
Talking military intervention isn’t even a good theoretical gamble. Few would really believe it, and it is improbable that the U.S. would follow through.
Though it’s unlikely to change anything, this is the first time the body has passed a resolution on Venezuela. There was also one shocking yes vote.
Russian attempts to create a potential alternative global alliance may explain the increasingly strange relationship between Turkey and Venezuela.
The political and human rights crises in Venezuela and Nicaragua were predictable. It may have been preventable too, if media, multilateral institutions and governments had reacted to the obvious and documented warning signs.
The failed assassination attempt will be a pretext for the Venezuelan government to distract international and national public attention from the crisis and criminalize the opposition.
