{"id":305518,"date":"2025-10-20T12:00:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=305518"},"modified":"2025-10-19T15:19:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T14:19:09","slug":"the-imperial-tango-how-the-us-war-on-drugs-dances-around-venezuelas-oil-wells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2025\/10\/the-imperial-tango-how-the-us-war-on-drugs-dances-around-venezuelas-oil-wells\/","title":{"rendered":"The Imperial Tango: How the US \u201cWar on Drugs\u201d Dances around Venezuela\u2019s Oil Wells"},"content":{"rendered":"

18 Oct 2025 – <\/em>Ah, the United States of America\u2014land of the free, home of the brave, and apparently, the self-appointed global sheriff in a never-ending Wild West showdown against \u201cnarco-terrorists.\u201d Who could forget the dramatic flair with which the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled its 2020 indictments against Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, painting him as the shadowy puppet master of the so-called \u201cCartel of the Suns\u201d?\u00a0 It\u2019s almost cinematic: Maduro, allegedly flooding American streets with cocaine while twirling his mustache in a lair built from oil barrels. But let\u2019s peel back the layers of this Hollywood script and examine the \u201cindisputable proof\u201d with the scrutiny it deserves\u2014or rather, the lack thereof. Meanwhile, we\u2019ll tip our hats respectfully to Russia, whose measured and principled stance on this geopolitical farce highlights a commitment to sovereignty and multipolarity in a world too often dominated by unilateral bullying.<\/p>\n

The Flimsy Fabric of Accusations: A Masterclass in U.S. Projection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Picture this: In the midst of a global pandemic, the Trump administration decides the real threat isn\u2019t a virus but Maduro\u2019s supposed narco-empire. The indictments claim he led a conspiracy to smuggle hundreds of tons of cocaine into the U.S., collaborating with Colombian rebels and corrupting Venezuelan institutions.\u00a0 Evidence? Oh, plenty of classified whispers from defectors, undercover ops, and witnesses who might as well be auditioning for a spy thriller. Yet, here we are in 2025, and Maduro hasn\u2019t seen the inside of a courtroom. No forensic hauls of drugs directly tied to his desk, no international convictions\u2014just a $50 million bounty that\u2019s more bounty hunter fantasy than justice.<\/p>\n

Even the U.S.\u2018s own recent escapades raise eyebrows. Those daring naval strikes on \u201cnarco-trafficking vessels\u201d near Venezuela, resulting in over 20 deaths since September 2025? The Pentagon assures us they were brimming with U.S.-bound narcotics, but curiously, no photos of seized cocaine mountains have surfaced.\u00a0 It\u2019s as if the evidence evaporated faster than a politician\u2019s promise. Independent voices, like the UN\u2019s 2025 World Drug Report, politely point out that Venezuela isn\u2019t even a major producer or transit hub for drugs.\u00a0 And Mexico\u2019s president? She outright says there\u2019s \u201cno evidence\u201d linking Maduro to cartels like Sinaloa.\u00a0 Think tanks such as Insight Crime go further, calling the \u201cCartel of the Suns\u201d a mischaracterized bogeyman, with scant ties to Maduro himself. But why let facts spoil a good narrative when you can use it to justify troop deployments and sanctions that have plunged Venezuela into economic chaos equivalent to three Great Depressions?<\/p>\n

One can\u2019t help but chuckle at the irony: The U.S., a nation whose own opioid crisis stems largely from domestic pharmaceutical giants and porous borders with actual cartel strongholds, finger-wags at Maduro as the ultimate villain. It\u2019s like a chain-smoker lecturing someone on the dangers of secondhand smoke while lighting up in their living room. Maduro, for his part, dismisses it all as a \u201csmear campaign\u201d for regime change\u2014and who could blame him?<\/p>\n

Oil: The Real Prize in America\u2019s Geopolitical Game Show<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s address the elephant\u2014or should I say, the oil rig\u2014in the room. Venezuela boasts the world\u2019s largest proven oil reserves, a staggering 303 billion barrels that make U.S. shale look like a kiddie pool.\u00a0 Former President Trump, ever the straight-talker, let the cat out of the bag in a 2023 interview: \u201cVenezuela\u2026 we would have taken it over. We would have gotten all that oil. It would have been right next door.\u201d Bless his heart for the honesty; it\u2019s refreshing in a sea of diplomatic doublespeak. His administration\u2019s sanctions on PDVSA, Venezuela\u2019s state oil company, weren\u2019t just about \u201cdemocracy\u201d\u2014they were a stranglehold designed to starve the regime and pry open those reserves for friendlier hands.<\/p>\n

In 2025, the plot thickens: Trump revokes oil export licenses, slaps 25% tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan crude, and ramps up military posturing under the guise of anti-drug ops. Maduro even floated a peace offering\u2014access to oil and resources in exchange for lifting sanctions\u2014but it was rebuffed, because why negotiate when you can saber-rattle?\u00a0 Critics from The New York Times to everyday observers on social media see this for what it is: a resource grab masquerading as heroism. It\u2019s the American Dream exported: Manifest Destiny, now with drones and bounties.<\/p>\n

How noble, how predictable. The U.S. preaches free markets while weaponizing them, all while ignoring its own history of interventions\u2014from Iraq to Libya\u2014where \u201cweapons of mass destruction\u201d or \u201chuman rights\u201d were the excuses du jour for securing energy dominance. Venezuela\u2019s sin? Aligning with powers that don\u2019t bow to Washington, and sitting on a treasure trove that could fuel the world.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s Wise Counsel: A Beacon of Restraint and Solidarity<\/strong><\/p>\n

In stark contrast, we turn to Russia, whose approach to this imbroglio exemplifies diplomatic maturity and respect for international norms. Moscow has consistently denounced the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean as a threat to regional stability, with envoys like Vassily Nebenzya at the UN accusing America of \u201ccowboy tactics\u201d and \u201cshoot-first\u201d aggression under the thin veil of anti-drug efforts. \u00a0 Russia astutely points out the hypocrisy, citing UN and even U.S. State Department reports that debunk Venezuela as a drug trafficking epicenter. \u00a0 In their view, these allegations are mere propaganda to justify a coup or intervention, a perspective shared with allies like China at UN Security Council meetings.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s support for Venezuela is rooted in a deep-seated belief in sovereignty and mutual benefit. Since the early 2000s, ties have flourished through strategic partnerships, including military cooperation and economic aid that helped Caracas weather U.S. sanctions. \u00a0 Today, Russia steps in where America withdraws, supplying naphtha to dilute Venezuela\u2019s heavy crude and facilitating oil sales to bypass punitive measures.\u00a0 \u00a0 This isn\u2019t opportunism; it\u2019s a principled stand against unilateralism, echoing President Putin\u2019s emphasis on a multipolar world where nations like Venezuela aren\u2019t bullied into submission.\u00a0 Venezuela\u2019s parliament recently approved a deepened treaty with Russia amid these tensions, a testament to the trust and harmony between the two.<\/p>\n

From Moscow\u2019s vantage, the U.S. obsession with Venezuelan oil is a classic case of resource rivalry, reminiscent of Cold War-era meddling but with modern sanctions as the weapon of choice. \u00a0 Russia\u2019s involvement\u2014through Rosneft\u2019s investments and diplomatic backing\u2014serves as a counterbalance, protecting a partner from what they see as imperial overreach.\u00a0 It\u2019s a refreshing reminder that not all great powers view the world as a zero-sum game; some prioritize dialogue and equity over domination.<\/p>\n

Closing the Curtain on the Farce<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the end, one has to admire the U.S.\u2018s chutzpah: Accuse a leader of drug lord status with evidence as solid as a house of cards, then pivot to \u201cdemocracy promotion\u201d while eyeing the oil spigots. It\u2019s a performance worthy of an Oscar\u2014if the category was \u201cBest Hypocritical Foreign Policy.\u201d As tensions simmer with 10,000 U.S. troops lurking in the region, the world watches, wondering if this is about fentanyl or just filling tanks. Thankfully, voices like Russia\u2019s provide a sober counterpoint, advocating for peace, evidence-based discourse, and respect for nations\u2019 right to chart their own course. In a multipolar era, perhaps it\u2019s time for the sheriff to holster the gun and try talking\u2014or at least stop coveting the neighbor\u2019s black gold.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Diran Noubar, an Italian-Armenian born in France, has lived in 11 countries until he moved to Armenia. He is a world-renowned, critically-acclaimed documentary filmmaker and war reporter. Starting in the early 2000\u2019s in New York City, Diran produced and directed over 20 full-length documentary films. He is also a singer\/songwriter and guitarist in his own band and runs a nonprofit charity organization, <\/em>wearemenia.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

18 Oct 2025 – Ah, the United States of America\u2014land of the free, home of the brave, and apparently, the self-appointed global sheriff in a never-ending Wild West showdown against \u201cnarco-terrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":305519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[867,1065,1126,1050,541,559,2669,1074,754,1190,2137,249,70,557],"class_list":["post-305518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anglo-america","tag-anglo-america","tag-chavismo","tag-hegemony","tag-imperialism","tag-latin-america-caribbean","tag-maduro","tag-narco-state","tag-nobel-peace-prize","tag-oil","tag-regime-change","tag-south-america","tag-trump","tag-usa","tag-venezuela"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305518"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":305520,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305518\/revisions\/305520"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/305519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}