We began the new year with Donald Trump following through on his proposed threats toward Venezuela, invading the country in a late night raid, kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro, and extraditing him to the United States on alleged drug charges.
Nayyera Haq, foreign policy and national security expert and host of The State Of Our Nation on Politicon, joined Susan J. Demas for an insightful conversation, unpacking the recent history of Maduro’s ascension and why the Venezuelan leader was a target of Donald Trump’s ire, explaining how the Trump telegraphed this action was only a matter of time.
The conversation also examined Trump’s turning to the oil companies over members of the US government as to what operations will look like in obtaining the Venezuelan commodity. “This is a very, very blunt and obvious operation that is being covered up,” says Nayyera of the administrations actions regarding oil less then a week after the raid.
Finally, Susan and Nayyera look at the impact this weekend’s actions might have with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the tensions in Asia, as China continues to eye Taiwan.
Trump’s Radio Silence — Broken
On Monday, CNN reported that the CIA launched a drone strike on a remote port facility in Venezuela earlier this month.
