After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has broken off diplomatic relations with the United States, the relationship between Washington and Caracas, as icy as never before. But there has been other times.
Between Washington and Caracas, Chavez has prevailed since the election of Hugo for more than 20 years of discord. The United States Association of long more with Venezuela than with its neighbouring countries.
Early Business Partner
At the beginning of the 20th century. Century made about the dictator Juan Vincente Gomez American Oil companies generous concessions – and thus laid the Foundation stone for what would later become the backbone of the Venezuelan economy. This business relationship has remained over the decades, even as Venezuela has its own oil company PDVSA founded and later US governments have tried to benefit from the resource wealth of the country.
The US-friendly policies have not contributed to the fact that Venezuela escaped, in contrast to other Latin American countries such as Guatemala and Chile, U.S. intervention.
The opposite of Cuba
23. January 1958 a coup overthrew the rights of military dictatorship; the then-burgeoning democratic movement in Venezuela firmed up. The new political leadership aspired, inspired by a stay in the United States and the encounter with the local democratic System – the establishment of a moderate government.
Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, but for years less
Washington felt the Transition from dictatorship to democracy in Caracas as a gentle, mainly because the political developments had no effect on the petroleum business of the two countries.
Only a year later, the Region of the Cuban Revolution was shaken. In the Wake of the events on the island state of advanced Venezuela and the United States even more closely together: While Cuba was Fidel Castro in the Soviet Union and in the United States of an enemy, was in Venezuela for the United States could, for example, for a state, in which democracy, freedom and economic progress without socialism to flourish.
Anti-Americanism under Chávez
First, Hugo Chávez changed the political relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, fundamentally. As a soldier he had to fight the order, of Cuba supported Guerilla fighters, who had it in for the democratically elected government of the country. The Cuban admirer of Chávez saw in the rebels but freedom fighters.
In the 1980s, a debt crisis is weighing on the already corruption-ridden Venezuelan democracy. As the political leadership was going to be the Washington-imposed austerity packages at the expense of the population, turned to Chávez against the Establishment.
Be, ultimately, a failed coup attempt in 1992, met with the population of a nerve. In 1998, Chávez won the presidential election. Soon he turned against the United States and the Oil industry.
George W. Bush: “The Devil”
Venezuela’s close relations with Cuba, Chávez stressed the relationship with Washington increasingly. In 2002, a coup failed attempt against Chávez. The trigger for the Protest in the Form of a General strike against the Attempts of Chávez’ control of the Venezuelan Oil industry was stronger.
From 1999 to 2013, ruling of Hugo Chávez split with his controversial policy of the international community
Then, he pushed forward the nationalization of the Oil industry even more, and accused the United States and their foreign secret service CIA in the coup attempt involved.
In the following years, he drove his Anti-Americanism on the top. The confrontation culminated in a speech before the United Nations, in which he called U.S. President George W. Bush as “the devil”. Chavez was the darling of the international Left and led a coalition of left-wing governments in Latin America, which saw in Cuba a friend and in the USA an enemy.
Obama goes on clearance
The Bush administration responded with the open support of the growing opposition movement in Venezuela. Chávez was, however, still massive popularity among the population, especially among the poor – even if the Concerns grew that his government is becoming increasingly undemocratic.
It was only with the election of Barack Obama in 2008, there was a change of course in the Venezuela-Washington’s policy. While Obama walked up to Chavez, but the US kept out of the conflict, and drove back its support for the government opponents in Caracas.
Era Maduro: A country in Chaos
Ten years later, the cards are shuffled completely new. Nicolás Maduro, the successor to the 2013, who died Cávez, was removed and replaced in 2017 by the Opposition-run Parliament. At the beginning of January of 2019, he was in spite of massive international protests for a second term swearing in. A majority of the Opposition had not boycotted the election last may, numerous States recognized the result.
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Power struggle and protests in VenezuelaOn A Collision Course
Nearly three weeks in office, Venezuela’s new President Juan Guaidó is the new face of the Opposition. On Wednesday, the 35-Year-old said, citing the Constitution to the interim President. US President, Trump assured Guaidó immediate support. Venezuela’s armed forces, however, is more behind the head of state, Nicolás Maduro, and have Guaidós back claim to power.
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Power struggle and protests in VenezuelaDead in unrest
However, 27 of the soldiers mutinied on Monday against Maduro. Since this uprising to fail, has exacerbated the Situation in the country. It u protests and unrest comes, as it is here in Caracas. According to the data of the “Observatory of social conflict” (OVCS), a non-governmental organization, were at least 13 people were killed. Most were killed by firearms.
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Power struggle and protests in VenezuelaHope Guaidó
A kiss for the President. Hundreds of thousands followed on Wednesday the protest call by the Opposition. They demonstrated against the socialist Maduro government, which will make you for supply shortages, which is currently the world’s highest Inflation and repression responsible. Venezuelan bishops called on the military to protect the citizens. The protests were a sign of hope.
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Power struggle and protests in Venezuela“The people demand freedom and the rule of law”
This protester in Caracas is brought up by two others on the motorcycle safety. In the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the violence continued in a number of cities in seeds in clashes between security forces and protesters. US President, Trump announced in a statement: “The people have courageously raised the voice against Maduro and freedom and the rule of law demanded.”
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Power struggle and protests in VenezuelaMaduro has mobilized for its part, trailer
Also, Maduro supporters have gone on Wednesday on the road. They celebrated the end of the military dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez on 23. January 1958 was overthrown. At a mass meeting in Caracas swore Nicolás Maduro and his followers to the defense of his government and of socialism.
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Power struggle and protests in VenezuelaAbroad, Venezuelans fly the flag
Venezuelans hold in Honduras posters high, the show: Yes to Guaidó, no to Maduro. In the course of the years of state – and supply crisis, around three million Venezuelans have been leaving their home. The United Nations warned recently that it could come in 2019, a further mass Exodus.
Meanwhile, the deep economic crisis that has caused the largest refugee crisis in Latin America. According to UN data fled since 2014, around three million Venezuelans, due to the disastrous supply situation abroad. In the case of protests against Maduro, there are regular violent clashes, alone 2017, at least 120 people were killed.
Outside of his own country did not have a 56-Year-old has managed to take the popularity of its predecessor. The former allies of Venezuela came to him, and to loss, as there centre-Right governments the reins acquisitions.
With Trump, the feud returns
In Washington, President Donald Trump has set up the confrontation to Caracas. In contrast to the Bush-Era Venezuela is isolated this Time.
For the massively weakened Opposition in Venezuela, the decision, the support from Washington to accept, on the Hand. It is no coincidence that Juan Guaidó, of all places, on 23. January, the transitional President stated that the day 61 years ago, the first Generation of Democrats in Venezuela overthrew the then-dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez – inspired and supported by the United States. At least from the point of view of the Opposition, which has connected the two countries in the past has consisted, until today.