US frustrated at Venezuela president’s staying power as ally Russia props him up
- Diplomats say economic pressure, mainly US sanctions, may not be enough to dislodge Nicolas Maduro if the Venezuelan people don’t rise up
The excitement in some US and foreign diplomatic circles about the rise of Juan Guaido and an expectation for the fall of President Nicolas Maduro has been replaced by frustration over the Venezuelan leader’s staying power – and Russia’s support for him.
Maduro’s hold on Venezuela has led diplomats, foreign leaders and some Washington officials to consider that, barring military action, Maduro may be able to follow in the footsteps of other authoritarian leaders who have stayed in power despite crushing sanctions.
“Maduro has definitely shown he is more resilient than what people thought. That’s a fact,” said a diplomat from Latin America who was unauthorised to speak publicly about the regional strategy.
“If you think about what the administration said about ‘this is the end, this is the end,’ and yet Maduro is still there.”
Foreign diplomats in Washington say they got caught up in expectations raised by some in the Trump administration that Guaido would take over the government, and so are disappointed that Maduro’s regime has not yet fallen.
Confidence that Maduro’s fall was guaranteed has now turned more to hope that he will – and concern he may not.
“There was this euphoric reaction that we all felt that it was the end of Maduro,” said Fernando Carrera, Guatemala’s foreign minister in 2013 and 2014.
