Crackdown Fears Grow in Venezuela as Rodríguez Prepares Key Speech
Fears of a potential crackdown are growing in Venezuela ahead of an anticipated speech by Interim President Delcy Rodríguez at the National Assembly. The address is expected to be crucial in signalling how the government plans to balance its image as an anti-imperialist revolutionary force at home while at the same time opening the door to negotiations with the United States.
The US continues to maintain a significant military presence near Venezuela, and Donald Trump is reportedly threatening the country — and Rodríguez in particular — with the possibility of a second wave of attacks.
Meanwhile, police and military forces inside Venezuela have begun operating against those suspected of supporting the recent US operation. A newly issued decree instructs security forces to pursue not only individuals who collaborated with or supported the US, but also those who promoted the operation — wording that could effectively place much of the opposition at risk of being targeted.
Analysts warn that the combination of external pressure and tightening internal security measures may signal a period of intensified political tension.
