The fight against Venezuela – "The truth is about oil" – News

The United States and Russia are growing more and more. The SRF correspondent Achermann fears a possible escalation.

In Venezuela, the struggle for power between President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition is intensifying: the powerless Parliament wants to push Maduro out of his position. The President of Parliament Juan Guaido considers himself a legitimate president and becomes the most important opponent of Maduro.

At the same time, the United States and Russia are increasingly interfering in the struggle for power in the country with the largest oil reserves in the world. All this could represent a bigger conflict, the fears of the SRF correspondent in South America, Ulrich Achermann.

Ulrich Achermann

Correspondent South America, SRF

Open the personal boxCollapse person box

Ulrich Achermann has been a correspondent of the SRF since 2003 and reports on all the countries of South America. He lives in Santiago, Chile.

News from the SRF: the situation in Venezuela is getting worse, why?

Ulrich Achermann: This is linked to the growing interest of the main US and Russian powers in Venezuela – but also to the fact that the South American environment has become hostile to Maduro. Furthermore, the opposition in Venezuela has become stronger. A mix of such intensity did not exist for many years.

The Venezuelan president Guaido has accepted to temporarily assume the presidency. The 35 year old just recently known has the necessary power base in Venezuela?

No. However, these are more than words, because the United States is behind him. The US security advisor, John Bolton, again appealed to the Venezuelan armed forces to organize the removal of Maduro. In addition, Maduro's private parliament now hopes in the military: it is about ending the era of Maduro. The Parliament has also implemented an amnesty. It would apply to mutilated military personnel against Maduro.

How will the United States benefit from a change of power in Venezuela?

Apparently this is the restoration of constitutionality and legality in Venezuela. In the eyes of Washington, Maduro has illegally secured his second term. But in fact and in truth, it is probably oil. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world and is geographically close to the United States.

The Russians are behind President Maduro. Also because of the oil?

Of course, also because of oil. Moscow has gained access to Venezuelan oil with billions of dollars. Add to this the geopolitical connections: with a military base in Venezuela, the Russians could increase their influence in South America – and that on the nose of the Americans. Washington would not like it.

Is it a power struggle in Venezuela that we know since the Cold War?

It could actually get to this – if things get worse and both major powers stubbornly pursue their interests. For the United States, the Monroe doctrine is still valid: it means to shorten that America belongs to the Americans. From the point of view of Washington, the Russians do not have business on the two American continents. Depending on how stubbornly Moscow defends the Maduro regime, the conflict could explode.

The interview was conducted by Christoph Kellenberger.

Second controversial of Maduro

Despite massive international protests, Maduro swore a week ago for a second term. Numerous states, international organizations and Venezuelan opposition judge his re-election last year as anti-democratic. Among other things, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and the Organization of American States (OAS) have the Maduro government as illegal and the Venezuelan parliament as the only legitimate state authority. Maduro is still supported by its left-wing allies in Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua as well as in China and Russia. The depreciation of the Venezuelan parliament on its part has accused Maduro on Tuesday of having taken power illegally. Whatever future decision of your government has canceled.