Modern Diplomacy: As the US decides its next move, Venezuelans continue to suffer under Maduro

By Mackenzie France

In typical Trump fashion, the president is leaving foreign policy analysts guessing on Venezuela. Some are convinced the military buildupoff the coast of Venezuela since late August is the dress rehearsal for what could become a full-blown regime change war. The Trump administration has downplayed these concerns, insisting that the lethal strikes conducted so far have been limited to drug cartels and are part of a wider operation against international drug smuggling. President Trump’s true intentions on Venezuela are sure to surface soon, but in the meantime ordinary Venezuelans will continue to suffer under the Maduro regime, especially as Caracas uses the prospect of conflict with the US as an excuse to crack down on citizens.