Drug Trafficking and Foreign Presence:
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Throughout the U.S. media there is a common argument against international aid and assistance for Venezuela: the threat of undermining Venezuelan sovereignty. While this argument holds an honorable sentiment, it’s nonetheless futile, since foreign influences have been allowed to permeate Venezuelan politics in order to serve different interests and goals ever since Chavismo took power in 1999.
Today, Venezuela suffers the undermining of its sovereignty by foreign governments such as the Cuban, Russian, and Chinese, as well as by Colombian guerrilla groups. The support of these foreign governments and dissident groups is what keeps Maduro in illegitimate power, despite of over 50 governments around the world recognizing Juan Guaidó as the legitimate Interim President of Venezuela.
Today, Venezuela suffers the undermining of its sovereignty by foreign governments such as the Cuban, Russian, and Chinese, as well as by Colombian guerrilla groups. The support of these foreign governments and dissident groups is what keeps Maduro in illegitimate power, despite of over 50 governments around the world recognizing Juan Guaidó as the legitimate Interim President of Venezuela.
Cuba
Shortly after the election of Hugo Chávez into power, Cuba became the largest influence in Venezuelan politics, turning the country into a socialist project that could advance the goals of Chavez’s long-time inspiration: the Castro regime.
Since the Bolivarian Revolution began, and Chávez proclaimed that Cuba and Venezuela were “La Gran Patria,” Cuba has in turn become the largest supporter of the Venezuelan regime in the region. This alliance dates back to 2000 when Chávez agreed to supply Cuba with discounted oil in exchange for hundreds of Cuban doctors, engineers, teachers, and professionals to implement social programs. For instance, Cuban doctors still carry out the “Barrio Adentro Mission”, an initiative to provide the poorest with medical attention throughout the country, and Cuban teachers worked the “Robinson Mission” that was implemented to overcome illiteracy. The ideas were good, the implementation not at all. The use of foreign professionals harmed Venezuelans as unemployment rates skyrocketed, and the presence of Cubans in Venezuela and access to medical services were used as a political weapon.
The Cuba-Venezuela exchange surmounted 100,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil being shipped to the island per day, which according to the Brookings Institution, amounted to 20.8% of Cuba’s total GDP by 2012. This allowed Cuba to revamp its economy, pay its debts, and advance its tourism industry.
Currently, in the interest of maintaining its trading partnership with Venezuela, Cuba supplies the Maduro regime with security advisers and military intelligence, which help suppress dissent within the armed forces and throughout the Venezuelan society.
Since the Bolivarian Revolution began, and Chávez proclaimed that Cuba and Venezuela were “La Gran Patria,” Cuba has in turn become the largest supporter of the Venezuelan regime in the region. This alliance dates back to 2000 when Chávez agreed to supply Cuba with discounted oil in exchange for hundreds of Cuban doctors, engineers, teachers, and professionals to implement social programs. For instance, Cuban doctors still carry out the “Barrio Adentro Mission”, an initiative to provide the poorest with medical attention throughout the country, and Cuban teachers worked the “Robinson Mission” that was implemented to overcome illiteracy. The ideas were good, the implementation not at all. The use of foreign professionals harmed Venezuelans as unemployment rates skyrocketed, and the presence of Cubans in Venezuela and access to medical services were used as a political weapon.
The Cuba-Venezuela exchange surmounted 100,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil being shipped to the island per day, which according to the Brookings Institution, amounted to 20.8% of Cuba’s total GDP by 2012. This allowed Cuba to revamp its economy, pay its debts, and advance its tourism industry.
Currently, in the interest of maintaining its trading partnership with Venezuela, Cuba supplies the Maduro regime with security advisers and military intelligence, which help suppress dissent within the armed forces and throughout the Venezuelan society.
Russia
Russia has reportedly poured more than $17 billion into Venezuela in loans and investments since 2006, according to the Carnegie Moscow Center. Venezuela has paid back much of that debt, but it still owes Russia more than $6 billion while Rosneft is owed $3 billion or so.
In 2006, Chávez signed a $2.9 billion arms deal in exchange for Russian fighter aircrafts. As part of the deal, Venezuela agreed to grant Russia access to oil at discounted prices. This agreement resulted in over $10 billion in Russian armament purchases by the Venezuelan government between 2005 and 2013.
In addition to the arms deal, Russia has a lot at stake economically in Venezuela. For instance, Russia’s state-backed oil company, Rosneft, is one of Venezuela’s largest foreign backers, and it loaned the Maduro regime $2.5 billion in exchange for future oil and energy shipments. Rosneft also co-owns several projects under PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, and has a 49% stake in Citgo, PDVSA’s U.S. refining arm. Most recently, Russia proved to be a close ally of the Maduro regime when it helped bail Venezuela out by restructuring more than $3 billion in debt.
As Venezuela’s biggest weapon supplier, Russia has become a loyal military cooperator to the Maduro regime. The two countries regularly conduct joint military exercises, as far as bringing in Russian strategic aircraft bombers and missile cruises capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which have visited Venezuela in 2008, 2013, and 2018, all amidst Russian tensions with the United States. In March of 2019, two Russian fighter jets landed in Caracas and were put into operational readiness, and in March 2019, over 100 Russian military advisers were sent to Caracas as a way to further protect the Maduro regime.
Also in March 2019, Venezuela put Russian S300 missiles into operational readiness after conducting drills the month before, as reported by global leader in end-to-end geospatial solutions Image Sat Intl.
In 2006, Chávez signed a $2.9 billion arms deal in exchange for Russian fighter aircrafts. As part of the deal, Venezuela agreed to grant Russia access to oil at discounted prices. This agreement resulted in over $10 billion in Russian armament purchases by the Venezuelan government between 2005 and 2013.
In addition to the arms deal, Russia has a lot at stake economically in Venezuela. For instance, Russia’s state-backed oil company, Rosneft, is one of Venezuela’s largest foreign backers, and it loaned the Maduro regime $2.5 billion in exchange for future oil and energy shipments. Rosneft also co-owns several projects under PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, and has a 49% stake in Citgo, PDVSA’s U.S. refining arm. Most recently, Russia proved to be a close ally of the Maduro regime when it helped bail Venezuela out by restructuring more than $3 billion in debt.
As Venezuela’s biggest weapon supplier, Russia has become a loyal military cooperator to the Maduro regime. The two countries regularly conduct joint military exercises, as far as bringing in Russian strategic aircraft bombers and missile cruises capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which have visited Venezuela in 2008, 2013, and 2018, all amidst Russian tensions with the United States. In March of 2019, two Russian fighter jets landed in Caracas and were put into operational readiness, and in March 2019, over 100 Russian military advisers were sent to Caracas as a way to further protect the Maduro regime.
Also in March 2019, Venezuela put Russian S300 missiles into operational readiness after conducting drills the month before, as reported by global leader in end-to-end geospatial solutions Image Sat Intl.
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Source: ImageSat International N.V.
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As of today and despite news about the withdrawal of Russian troops from Caracas, Vladimir Putin's government has declared that military “work is being carried out in accordance with existing obligations, and there is no talk of any cuts.”
China
Amongst all of Venezuela’s foreign influences, the Chinese government has the largest economic interests to protect in Caracas. Currently, Venezuela has a growing debt to China of over $20 billion, and amidst a grave economic crisis, it seems unlikely that it will be able to pay it off anytime soon.
Late Presidents Hugo Chávez and Hu Jintao laid the foundations of the China-Venezuela state-to-state relationship back in 2007 through their first loans-for-oil deals. By 2014, China had provided the Venezuelan government with more than $30 billion in oil-backed loans. They mainly supported investment in the energy and mining sectors, including power stations, oil refineries, and pipelines. But China miscalculated Venezuela’s ability to sustain oil production and, hence, economic activity amid the country’s worsening economic crisis and historic oil sector collapse.
In 2016, China stopped issuing financial assistance to Venezuela after its loans to the Maduro regime reached as high as $70 billion. However, despite the cash flow cutoff, China keeps on “exporting surveillance technology used to monitor and repress the Venezuelan people,” according to the U.S. Southern Command. Between 2000 and 2017, Venezuela spent more than $5.6 billion in the purchase of weapons, including $628 million from China. Traditionally, Russia was the biggest provider of weapons to Venezuela, but as of 2013 China assumed this role.
China also has a large economic interest in Venezuela’s natural resources. Over the past decade, the Asian giant has directly invested more than $580 million in mining projects, which account for about 111,800 square kilometers of land (roughly 12.2% of the Venezuelan territory).
Clearly, China benefits from its trading and mining partnership with the Maduro regime, and it will do anything in its power to protect its economic interests and get its outstanding debt repaid.
Late Presidents Hugo Chávez and Hu Jintao laid the foundations of the China-Venezuela state-to-state relationship back in 2007 through their first loans-for-oil deals. By 2014, China had provided the Venezuelan government with more than $30 billion in oil-backed loans. They mainly supported investment in the energy and mining sectors, including power stations, oil refineries, and pipelines. But China miscalculated Venezuela’s ability to sustain oil production and, hence, economic activity amid the country’s worsening economic crisis and historic oil sector collapse.
In 2016, China stopped issuing financial assistance to Venezuela after its loans to the Maduro regime reached as high as $70 billion. However, despite the cash flow cutoff, China keeps on “exporting surveillance technology used to monitor and repress the Venezuelan people,” according to the U.S. Southern Command. Between 2000 and 2017, Venezuela spent more than $5.6 billion in the purchase of weapons, including $628 million from China. Traditionally, Russia was the biggest provider of weapons to Venezuela, but as of 2013 China assumed this role.
China also has a large economic interest in Venezuela’s natural resources. Over the past decade, the Asian giant has directly invested more than $580 million in mining projects, which account for about 111,800 square kilometers of land (roughly 12.2% of the Venezuelan territory).
Clearly, China benefits from its trading and mining partnership with the Maduro regime, and it will do anything in its power to protect its economic interests and get its outstanding debt repaid.
Colombian Guerrillas
The Colombian guerrilla groups FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, per its acronym in Spanish) and ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, per its acronym in Spanish) operate in 12 out of 23 Venezuelan states, engaging in crimes and drug trafficking. Under the narco-dictatorship of Maduro, Venezuela has become a prime location for the narco business to smuggle drugs and to engage in illegal mining of Venezuela's natural resources.
How Venezuela became 'the cocaine capital of the world'
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Source: Yahoo! Finance
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Venezuela’s drug trafficking network is known as the “Cartel of the Suns” (Cartel de los Soles). The name comes from the golden stars that generals in the Venezuelan National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivariana—GNB, per its acronym in Spanish) wear on their epaulettes. “The term was first used in 1993 when two National Guard generals, anti-drugs chief Ramón Guillén Dávila and his successor Orlando Hernández Villegas, were investigated for drug trafficking. Today the name is used to describe all government officials involved in the drug trade,” according to a three-year investigation by InSightCrime. These are some of the officials allegedly involved:
The Venezuelan regime has been investigated and sanctioned for drug trafficking through its “Cartel of the Suns,” composed of high ranking government and military officials, since 2002. Additionally, the number of suspected drug flights from Venezuela has risen from about two flights per week in 2017 to nearly daily in 2018 to as many as five nighttime flights in the sky at once in 2019.
Regarding illegal mining, the ELN earns 60 percent of their illicit profits in southern Venezuela, where it illegally mines resources from controlled Venezuelan land.
As they control parts of the Venezuelan-Colombian border, ELN and FARC groups have been recruiting Venezuelan migrants who cross over by foot in an attempt to escape the crisis. In addition, in March 2019, members of these guerrilla groups joined forces with the Maduro regime to end protests at the border and regain control of the territory. The border protests had erupted as Venezuelans tried to get international humanitarian aid into the country despite Maduro’s blocking.
Regarding illegal mining, the ELN earns 60 percent of their illicit profits in southern Venezuela, where it illegally mines resources from controlled Venezuelan land.
As they control parts of the Venezuelan-Colombian border, ELN and FARC groups have been recruiting Venezuelan migrants who cross over by foot in an attempt to escape the crisis. In addition, in March 2019, members of these guerrilla groups joined forces with the Maduro regime to end protests at the border and regain control of the territory. The border protests had erupted as Venezuelans tried to get international humanitarian aid into the country despite Maduro’s blocking.
