It seems like politics these days are more tangled than a holiday string of lights, no thanks to the ongoing issues stemming from Venezuela. Just as festive preparations keep local stores bustling, the U.S. is also bustling with action, particularly in how President Trump has decided to face the thorny problem of Venezuela and its infamous leader, Nicolas Maduro. For decades, the U.S. turned the other cheek to narco-trafficking, as if ignoring it might miraculously make it disappear. Finally, someone has decided enough is enough.
President Trump, in his trademark fashion, has dialed up the pressure on Maduro’s regime and its dubious business in narcotics. The southern border isn’t just a geographic dividing line anymore but a treacherous channel through which drugs—deadly ones, like fentanyl—have been clandestinely slipped into the U.S. Waging a battle that echoes the spirit of past great American crusades, only this time against cartels, Trump is tackling the heart of the matter by disabling the financial legs these criminal organizations stand on. There’s no denying it: addressing the illicit trade out of Venezuela boldly confronts not just the commerce but the very business model sustaining such malignant operations.
Despite tacit bipartisan supports, some Democrats seem tied up in knots over these efforts, confusing protecting American lives with “inappropriate” actions. One might wonder if they’ve found themselves stuck in different pages of the script. Reading the room—well, the country—it’s a bit baffling how there’s disagreement over stopping practices that endanger lives. Millions have been affected by these trafficked substances; calling out Trump’s actions as murder in the same breath as calling drug dealers threats is simply political posturing—talk about misreading the holiday spirit.
With China, Russia, and Iran lurking about in Venezuela’s neighborhood, the stakes are beyond high—they’re as critical as ever. It’s not just about drugs anymore, but a broader tableau of geopolitical meddling. In a manner that’s anything but subtle, these nations have anchored themselves in Latin America, exploiting the region’s vulnerabilities. One can’t help but imagine them mischievously twirling mustaches in a villain’s huddle. Trump’s administration is prying open these arrangements, tightening the noose not just around the usual suspects, but indirectly warning these countries to cut their regional maneuvers and mischief short.
Last but not least, it’s refreshing to see Trump keeping his promise about being tough on China, something his predecessors seemed to sidestep quietly. The move to choke out Venezuela’s illicit oil activities is an essential step in stemming the flow of economic lifelines to those back-door deals and maneuvers. If the world’s a stage, then Trump’s portrayal of a hardliner is a performance we’d prefer not end before the final curtain calls on these decadesr-old issues. After all, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing decades of problems like knotted strings finally unwinding, ready to light the way forward.
