US calls Venezuela crisis part of plan to confront Russia and China

Protesters in the capital Caracas. Photo: AP

In an article published in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the author stated that the effort to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is the first step in implementing the US government's plan to strengthen control in Latin America and weaken the influence of Russia and China there.

America's Goal

Sources from the government daily also confirmed that removing the power of the current Venezuelan President is part of a plan to strengthen US influence in Latin America. Moreover, Washington's next moves may be aimed at Cuba, as well as "limiting the power of Russia, Iran and China".

"Although Washington has long criticized the Maduro regime and its predecessor Hugo Chávez, many officials in the Trump administration believe that, in terms of national security, Cuba represents a more serious threat," the article said.

US officials believe that Cuba itself has pointed out Cuba's intelligence activities in the US and its efforts to spread "anti-American" ideology in other Latin American countries. Therefore, the US government's goal at this time is to break the relationship between Venezuela and Cuba, as well as to cause the collapse of the regimes of these two countries. "Venezuela and Cuba are part of the US's plan to isolate, hinder the building of relationships with Russia, China and Iran, causing insecurity for Washington" - the WSJ article wrote.

To develop this strategy, over the past two years, the Trump administration has used human resources with the ability to create influence, such as: Congressman Maurico Claver-Carone, an expert overseeing relations with Latin America, under the National Security Council; Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart participated in drafting the plans.

The article also revealed additional information from the US State Department, after Venezuela and Cuba, US officials will pay "special attention" to Nicaragua.

Big risk

However, the article also points out serious risks to the US administration's strategy. If the support for the government of opposition leader Juan Guaido is not strong enough to remove the power of incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, or to break the relationship between Caracas and Havana, then the crisis in Venezuela will become more serious and the US will be "immersed" deeper into this crisis.

"In the event of a failure of the US strategy, this will further strengthen the positions of Russia, China and Iran in the region," the article said.

According to the article, it is unlikely that the US will attract other countries to join in the fight against Cuba. "Although Venezuela has long been an 'outcast' for US allies, some other countries such as Canada and France have now shown interest in Cuba," the article analyzed.