President Nicolas Maduro was hand pick to succeed President Hugo Chavez, when Chavez died on 5 March 2013 from the struggle against cancer. Maduro became the President of Venezula.He took over the “Bolivarian Mission” task started by the Late President Hugo Chavez. During the reign of President Hugo Chavez, the government nationalized many industries. President Chavez was a socialist and anti-neoliberal who viewed the neoliberal model created a rise in poverty, a deterioration of social conditions, and heightened inequalities(b). The country’s economy was export depended on oil production, which accounts for 86% of all exports. In addition, he initiated a social program funded by the high price per barrel of oil. The situation worsened during President Maduro’s presidency when in 2014 price of oil prices fell from $100/bbl to $40/bbl. Thus, Venezuela was no longer able to support its massive social programs. His presidency has been affected by hyperinflation, shortage of food, lack of medical service, unemployment, crime, and mass emigration to Columbia and Brazil.

Maduro also faced political deadlock in the country. In 2017 Maduro established a new Venezuelan Constituent Assembly replacing the opposition majority National Assembly. His 2018 election victory was not considered legitimate and not accepted by the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and many more countries. The United States considered Juan Guaido as the legitimate President of Venezuela. There is a general understanding between Maduro and the opposition, as stated by Guaido’s deputy foreign minister, Isadora Zubillaga admitted:” The reality is that we must talk. We were not able to wipe them out, and they were not able to wipe us out either. There are present negotiations between the Maduro government and the opposition. Vice President Delcy Rodrígue’s brother Jorge Rodriquez, top Chavista, shared a photograph of himself shaking hands with the chief negotiator for Venezuela’s opposition, Gerardo Blyde, signaling the reactivation of stalled talks designed to bridge the country’s toxic political schism.

There are possible changes in the United States policy toward Venezuela compared to the Trump era “maximum pressure” policy, which used harsh sanctions to try to topple Maduro. The Current President, Maduro, has survived severe sanctions against his government at the expense of ordinary Venezuelans who faced a shortage of food, shelter, and economic opportunity. 

The willingness to negotiate between Maduro’s government and the opposition and the United States’ change in policy has lifted the hope of the end of suffering for the Venezuelan people. At the same time, the opposition welcomes the lifting of sanctions against the Maduro government by the international community. However, the opposition cautioned the United States not to provide too much concession without the penalty of not meeting the expectation set during negotiation. 

 The present outreach by the United States toward Venezuela stems from the need for Venezuelan oil to offset the lack of oil created by sanctions against Russia. Washington is willing to work with the Maduro government and encourage negotiation with the opposition. Maduro also found this an opportunity to gain the desperately needed new markets for its oil and access to western refineries, banking systems, and investment. Venezuela also benefits since the Russians are selling oil to China at a much lower price than Venezuela, thus losing significant export to its principal market. The question is, how would Maduro react to the change in policy from Washington?

Works Cited

a)By Tom Phillips, Patrick Winour, and Julian Bonger in Washington

“Maduro glimpses political lifeline as US rethinks Venezuela policy.”

The Guardian,19 May 2022

b)Dawson, Alexander.Latin America Since Independence: A History with Primary Sources

Document 1.3 Speech by President Hugo Chavez at the Opening of XIIG-15 Summit, Monday,1 March 2004. (26-32)