Tag "Venezuela"
An Ecosystem in Crisis: Environmental Degradation in Venezuela
Venezuela’s biodiverse environment, from its share of the Amazon rainforest to its lakes and coastline, has suffered increasing levels of pollution and degradation in recent years. Venezuela’s reliance on extractive practices including mining and its ageing oil industry is one of the main drivers of the degradation of its environment. Given the attitude of the Maduro regime, the situation is set to worsen.
Alex Saab and the State of Corruption in Venezeula
The Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro has been accused of turning a blind eye to or engaging actively in corruption for both the personal enrichment of state officials and as part of sanction-dodging efforts. Among other individuals linked to corruption by the Maduro government, in June 2020 Colombian national Alex Saab was arrested in Cape Verde in connection with an Interpol Red Notice concerning money laundering. Now, 6 months after his arrest, it seems likely that he will be extradited to the US. How significant is Saab to the Maduro government and what impact might his extradition have?
Crisis besets Venezuela: A failing regime?
Economic downturn, trading tensions with the USA, and international sanctions have all begun to play a role in the destruction of the Maduro regime. The possible results of this are civil unrest, economic collapse and ultimately, a failed state.
Venezuela: The Risk to the Maduro Regime’s Stability
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Moros and several top-level officials in Venezuela were indicted on charges of “narco-terrorism” by U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday the 26th of March, 2020. This indictment follows a months-long escalation of tensions between Caracas and Washington D.C.
US and Russia: developments in Venezuela
On 14 May 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in Sochi. The main topic of discussion was the conflict in Venezuela, which has recently strained Russia-US relations.
New Pirates of the Caribbean: Growing instability in Venezuela
Globally, the threat of piracy has been tackled with impressive and effective joint international efforts. In some parts of the world, though, the threat is growing.
Guest Post: Humanitarian intervention and information warfare
This article is a Guest contribution that discusses the potential future of State-sponsored information warfare and its ramifications
The risks of American military involvement in Venezuela
The world got a glimpse of National Security Advisor John Bolton’s notepad at a White House briefing this week, and it said ‘5,000 troops to Colombia.’ Is this a viable strategy to help ensure stability in Venezuela? What are the risks of the US military becoming involved in another Latin American nation where memories are still rife with US interference? Will it cause conflict with Russia?
Maduro regime unfazed by condemnation
In a historic rebuke, five Latin American nations urged the ICC to investigate the regime of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro for human rights abuses. Though this public denunciation is noteworthy, the main external threat to the Maduro regime comes not from its neighbors, but from Beijing.
ELN poses long-term risk to Colombia’s oil and gas industry
Hours after the ninety-day ceasefire between the Colombian government and the ELN ended, the last remaining guerrilla in the country demonstrated why foreign investment will not be returning anytime soon.