President Maduro is in favor of dialogue with the opposition. He also thinks external interference in Venezuela's affairs is ridiculous.
"We're going back to neo-colonialism when orders from the capital of a European country or the USA give orders go to any country in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Who do they think they are to be in charge here? We do not accept ultimatums from anyone in the world. We do not accept blackmail".
Indeed, on what basis do Western countries demand Maduro's resignation? The president of France sounds especially piquant when he says that Maduro should "get lost". Meanwhile, Macron's rating dropped to 28% in January. Maduro was inaugurated in January after an election where he received 68% of the vote. Which "M" should "get lost"?
In the meantime, the United States openly aimed at overthrowing Maduro. Take the fact the PDVSA, the largest Venezuelan oil company, had its funds in the USA seized. A part of the assets of the Venezuelan government was given to the impostor, Juan Guaido. According to National Security Advisor Bolton, the United States has frozen $7 billion worth of assets belonging to the Venezuelan oil company. Can you imagine such a thing? They expropriated the money of a foreign state and, without any permission, gave it to a man who was appointed by Washington as the president of this state.
Meanwhile, China and Russia support Venezuela and continue their economic cooperation. I named China first because China is Venezuela's largest creditor and investor. It's about $70 billion. American investors and creditors are in second place. According to Reuters, they've invested about $50 billion into Venezuela. Russia has invested an order of magnitude less. At least, the Russian Ministry of Finance has no complaints.
"We get our payments in September and March. Nothing is overdue".
Money is important, but there are things more valuable. I mean principles. One of them is the non-interference in the affairs of other states. America, for example, is displeased with the idea that someone could meddle in their elections. Then why is America meddling in Venezuela's affairs so cynically and unceremoniously?
We were told about the Monroe Doctrine once again. This is one of the American presidents; James Monroe, a contemporary of our Decembrists. Back in those days, he proclaimed a doctrine which stated that both Americas were in the United State's sphere of influence and the US shouldn't interfere in European countries' spheres of influence in the other hemisphere. But somehow the Monroe Doctrine is only remembered when we speak about Venezuela. When we speak about Syria or Iraq, the doctrine disappears. That is, we play over here, but we don't play over there.
Indeed, the situation in Venezuela right now is tough. Maduro’s socialist methods, such as the direct distribution of foodstuffs or the nationalization of enterprises that sell manufactured goods at inflated prices, as it seems to the government, have become popular among the population, but do have their downsides; a lack of goods, rampant inflation and a noticeable outflow of the population from the country. But a coup isn't a remedy for such things. A dialogue inside Venezuela and a joint search for a way out are needed.
The current course of the government is not the only reason for economic difficulties. For instance, until 1959, foreign oil companies paid only 26% in taxes, meaning that the profit of foreign, namely American and British, companies was three times higher than what Venezuela got for its oil. It was robbery. That's why in 1976, the country's entire oil industry was nationalized. Now, the Americans have decided to seize the moment.
