Venezuela Between Fear and Hope: U.S. Threats Target Maduro

Caracas is tense: hundreds of government supporters took to the streets with speeches and weapons, vowing to defend the country from a possible U.S. invasion. Business leaders and diplomats, meanwhile, warn that an American strike could unleash bloody chaos. Some residents of the capital, however, remain skeptical, doubting that political change in Venezuela will ever come.

Source The New York Times

The U.S. has already attacked at least three boats in the Caribbean, accusing Venezuela of drug trafficking. President Donald Trump publicly called Nicolás Maduro a "terrorist" and claimed his regime threatens America with drugs and instability. Although most cocaine comes from Colombia and Ecuador, the White House accuses Caracas of complicity.

Venezuela’s opposition, led by María Corina Machado, urges the U.S. to help overthrow Maduro, citing fraudulent elections. At the same time, many Venezuelans fear direct military intervention, believing it dangerous and likely to increase repression. In Caracas, contrasting images of war and peace coexist: pro-government rallies alongside the everyday lives of ordinary citizens.