The Biden administration is pushing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to resign in exchange for him receiving amnesty from US drug changes. Washington recently contested the Venezuelan presidential election, claiming Edmundo González Urrutia won at the polls.
The Wall Street Journal reported speaking with three sources who said the White House is willing to pardon Marduo and other top Venezuelan officials and agree not to seek extradition to the US on drug trafficking charges. In exchange, Maduro would leave power before his presidential term ends in January.
The Journal described the policy as a long-shot bid to force Maduro from power. According to Caracas, Maduro won the July 28, Venezuela presidential election. The State Department denied the results from the Venezuelan government and declared Urrutia to be the true president.
For decades, successive American presidents have attempted to oust Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez. The coup efforts have failed to push the communist government from power in Caracas.
Under President Barack Obama, the US placed heavy sanctions on Venezuela. Once Donald Trump took power, he increased the economic war and attempted to replace Maduro with Juan Guaido.
Trump’s Department of Justice charged Maduro with drug trafficking and offered a $15 million bounty for his arrest.
While the sanctions and coups have not led to regime change, it has increased the suffering of Venezuelans. The US economic war has contributed to tens of thousands of deaths.
