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The government of Nicolás Maduro is facing one of its greatest crises of nervousness and uncertainty from the Palace of Miraflores, as international pressure led by the United States is increasing.
The administration of President Donald Trump has intensified its actions in the Caribbean with military presence and direct messages aimed at the inner circle of chavismo, generating internal suspicions of betrayal and
Thus the correspondent of El País in Bogotá, journalist Juan Diego Quesada, described the scenario in an article published in the prestigious Spanish media outlet on Sunday, September 21, hours after the sinking of a vessel from Venezuela ordered by Trump.
The situation, according to Quesada, becomes more unstable with each action taken by the U.S. administration, compounded by the dissemination of cryptic messages from U.S. officials, such as the one directed to presidential pilot Bitner Javier Villegas, suggesting secret contacts with Washington.
Maduro's response has raised more doubts than certainties among his supporters. While his internal speech aims to convey security and firmness, the letter sent to President Trump and the subsequent reactions revealed the panic that is spreading in Miraflores, with a submissive narrative, filled with accusations of those “fake news” that characterized the Republican political discourse.
The request for Richard Grenell, an former negotiator in previous dealings, to lead any approach between Washington and Caracas also revealed the neurasthenic intention of the Chavista regime to exclude Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a thorn in the side of the Cartel of the Suns and a close ally of opposition leader María Corina Machado, from any dialogue regarding bilateral relations.
Moreover, tension is rising within chavismo amid rumors of defections in the military ranks and alleged clandestine negotiations for a power transition. According to Quesada, although many of these reports have not been confirmed, they have fueled a climate of paranoia within the regime, which fears a surprise operation by the United States.
“There is confusion. We have never experienced a situation like this,” a source close to the presidential circle assured to the newspaper El País. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan armed forces have activated defense exercises in the Caribbean, showcased training images in popular neighborhoods, and strengthened the national defense narrative.
The U.S. military deployment has been justified by the White House as part of the fight against drug trafficking. However, analysts point out that this area does not represent the epicenter of global drug trade.
The operation would rather support the thesis—yet to be legally proven—that Maduro would be implicated in transnational criminal networks.
Chavismo, weakened electorally and experiencing a growing loss of popular support, now faces not only external pressure but also internal mistrust. The possibility of an armed confrontation, which seemed distant just a few months ago, is beginning to take shape among the main operators of the regime.
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