Thanks in large part to American weakness, wars are spreading across the world. and the Middle East , Asia is tense, and now, closer to home, another dictator threatens to up-end a great nation just a three-hour flight from Miami.
Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has learned valuable lessons from his patron, Vladimir Putin, and has set his sights on neighboring Guyana鈥檚 Essequibo region, an area that conveniently possesses massive offshore oil reserves. Maduro鈥檚 corrupt regime went so far as to hold a nationwide 鈥溾€� to create the illusion of popular support for its claims, followed by a that ordered all state-owned companies to 鈥渋mmediately鈥� explore and exploit the oil, gas and mines in the region. The Biden Administration must not risk America鈥檚 national security in our own hemisphere to deteriorate by further appeasing Maduro鈥檚 regime. Instead, the United States must take every step to re-establish deterrence and keep Maduro from doing to Guyana what has done to Ukraine.
Opposing Venezuela鈥檚 designs on Guyana is both the right thing to do and in America鈥檚 vital national interest. Guyana is a trustworthy partner and a massive source of affordable energy for the American people. Our actions in response to Maduro鈥檚 aggression will have a direct impact on energy prices here at home and on the fundamental trajectory of South America for decades. Maduro does not represent the Venezuelan people but rather the interests of America鈥檚 adversaries. His dictatorship鈥攍ike that of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez鈥攈as been ten years of pain for the Venezuelan people, delivering hyperinflation, rolling blackouts, and economic collapse, and Maduro has remained in power only by engineering sham elections and leaning on help from foreign nations鈥攏amely Cuba, Iran, Russia, and China. President Biden should not underestimate or dismiss the possibility that Maduro will now seek to bolster his own position and legacy by invading Guyana or鈥攎ore likely鈥攂y annexing the territory via subversion, irregular warfare, infiltration, and even the harassment of offshore oil companies.
The Biden Administration playbook puts Guyana and the region at risk. President Biden鈥檚 absurd treatment of Maduro to date has been straight out of his 鈥榓ppease first, protect America and its friends last鈥� model that he unleashed on the Middle East. Why on earth would you take sanctions off Maduro and trust his 鈥減romise鈥� of free and fair elections? In what Washington-based progressive, defeatist think tank was this deemed remotely likely to happen? Indeed, two weeks after the deal was signed, Maduro banned his primary opposition opponent, Maria Corina Machado, then mocked the Biden Administration鈥檚 November 30th deadline by establishing a sham appeal process for detained opposition candidates. Maduro fleeced President Biden and his officials.
What possible rationale could there have been for the Biden Administration allowing Alex Saab鈥攚ho was being prosecuted here in America for being Maduro and the Ayatollah鈥檚 bagman, moving money, gold, and weapons back and forth between two nations that want American destroyed鈥攖o be released and allowed to return home to a hero鈥檚 welcome? It is almost certain that Saab has already returned to helping these two evil regimes hurt Americans.
Common sense and American security require that we change course. We must reestablish deterrence in the region by first clearly communicating to the Maduro regime, through public and private messaging and shows of force, that the United States will oppose and crush any attempt by Venezuela to instigate conflict with its neighbor. The Administration鈥檚 decision to flight operations in collaboration with the Guyana Defense Force is a good start, but more will be required to deter Maduro. We should not act alone, either: Every single one of our partners and allies in the region should be getting a phone call from President Biden, asking them to join together in opposing Maduro鈥檚 threat to regional security.
The Biden Administration must also swiftly reimpose the sanctions put in place by the Trump Administration, sanctions that Venezuela鈥檚 oil exports by 70 percent in just a few short years. The Biden Administration鈥檚 decision to lift those sanctions back in October will deliver an expected windfall of $1.4 billion for the dictatorship, all while Maduro鈥檚 regime continues to hold American citizens hostage. Sanctions are not solely punitive, but they can 鈥� if properly implemented 鈥� have a devastating impact on the ability of a regime to project power. We must be both strategic and tactical in using these sanctions to keep Maduro from action.
Finally, America should help build a strong and prosperous Guyana that can defend itself and take care of its own people. This is a nation with great resources鈥攚onderful people who work hard, natural resources that are nearly unrivaled, and a government that is determined to build infrastructure that will improve the lives of all its citizens. My most recent trip there confirmed that the country is well-positioned to realize its promise of incredible prosperity and opportunity, but they will need America鈥檚 support to do so.
America recently marked the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, in which President James Monroe recognized that Latin America and the Caribbean matter to American security and prosperity and that foreign powers should not meddle or settle there. President Biden should heed Monroe鈥檚 wisdom and put Maduro鈥檚 benefactors鈥擷i, Putin, and the Ayatollah鈥攐n notice, making clear that America will hold them responsible for any breach of Guyana鈥檚 sovereignty.