Venezuela is on the brink of an explosion, with civil war a real possibility.

Venezuela is on the brink of an explosion, with civil war a real possibility. That would be a catastrophe for the country’s long-suffering people, and any outside intervention that makes it more likely would be deeply misguided. That applies to the United States but no less to China and Russia. The US, which never hesitates to meddle in the internal affairs of Latin American countries, raised the Venezuelan crisis to the status of an international one when it withdrew recognition from the regime led by Nicolás Maduro, an ally of China and Russia, and acknowledged his rival Juan Guaidó as rightful president. So a domestic dispute has become an arena for a clash between the great powers, which makes it very much more difficult to solve. Pope Francis’ fears that major bloodshed may be imminent are well founded.

Get Instant Access

Continue Reading

Register for free to read this article in full

REGISTER

Subscribe for unlimited access

SUBSCRIBE NOW

From just £37.50 quarterly

  Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
  Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
  Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
  Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login