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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – No one should shed a tear that Nicolas Maduro is no longer the president of Venezuela.
International observers agree that he lost the 2024 election, and remained in office is an illegitimate leader. His political opponents are in jail or have been ‘disappeared’. Under his socialism, people cannot feed themselves. He exports illegal oil to China. He turns a blind eye when fentanyl from his country shows up in the United States.
Venezuelan exiles, in the United States and across the world, are cheering that Donald Trump has removed Maduro from power.
Is Maduro’s arrest legal? That’s irrelevant. He’s out of power, and will never return, and that’s what matters.
The challenge is who will run Venezuela in the meantime. Maduro’s vice president happened to be on a diplomatic trip to Russia at the time we removed him. So Delcy Rodriguez seems to be a poor choice. China has a growing diplomatic footprint in South America. Leaders who are friendly with the Red Chinese will not rule Venezuela either. Venezuela has been propped up for years by Cuba. Cuba-friendly leaders are not viable either.
And here is the dirty little secret about Venezuelan oil. They welcomed foreign investment to bring their oil out of the ground. Their oil fields were developed by western companies: Exxon, Mobil, Shell and Gulf. Those companies were kicked out by Hugo Chavez, and the lost all of their investment money. They will want to be made whole. Pumping Venezuela’s oil to pay off American and European companies is the stuff that revolutions are made of.
Maduro is out. And that’s wonderful news. Actually running the mess he’s left behind will be very, very complicated. We should all hope Donald Trump succeeds.
Chris Conley
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