What’s happening in Venezuela and what does it mean?

[theotherfossilsister]

I’m confused- has the US gone to war with them? What are the implications if so?

And what has Corbyn got to do with it? Is he supportive of Maduro? I thought he would support Chavez more?

Gosh, the above has all got rather involved and I think my prose hasn't been the best.

So TLDR:
You cannot herd me into giving up my country to US anti-democratic extremism or Christian extremism or racist extremism, by threatening me with Islamist extremism and by trying to cast all Muslims as extremist.

It’s possible, but your expectations must be realistic. GWB literally thought he could plant a liberal democracy in the heart of the Middle East. Incredibly dumb

it looks more like America’s relationship with Pakistan. You cannot change them, you can only find mutual interest (in this case, China/stans).

demographics is destiny. Lebanon and Palestine are cautionary tales …

I don't know; there have been no signs that any of them have had their eyes on Venezuela. This is about the US making it's piratical mark on Central & South America for now but how about Greenland? That's got some nice minerals that would be useful to the gangster paradise. Europe is far too obsequious to America for far too long. Will we support Denmark if they go for Greenland next?
Terrible complacency.

Hmmm.

So the Venezuelan population is happy about Maduro's VP being left in charge, rather than the opposition which they democratically elected last year? Presumably she didn't know about any of his abuses during the seven years she was the VP?

It's weird how relevant Corbyn seems to be to the right wingers, since he's largely not to anyone else.

What’s with this ‘right wingers’ stuff. I mean Corbyn isn’t a big deal whether he’s mentioned or not. UK politicians aren’t really in this.

Whata pile of horse shit!

Not considered a Western country, by whom?

Fuck off with this replacement theory MAGA crap.

That's my point. I'm not the poster making the points about who 'Corbyn and his ilk' support. I mean, who cares? Those of us broadly on the left don't.

Fundamental America under Trump has turned away from Western ideals, maybe the rest of the World should consider them no longer Western.
It's actually less ridiculous than the codswallop being peddled some on here.

I’m not a right winger! Just trying to make sense of all this!

Fucking hell.

Another escalating situation in Iran. There are currently violent protests against the regime which has been attacking Irnaians and killing them in some cases. I've seen videos of protesters being shot and there's reports of Russia sending arms to prop up the Iranian regime.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna252000

https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-nuclear-us-what-to-know-explainer-845b3ac10c37727add7118ec9c2f6e46

https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-trump-tehran-economic-crisis-inflation/33639798.html

And yet silence from the average person in the UK US etc, but if Trump intervenes and successfully removes the regime suddenly liberals become experts in geopolitics will "STAND with the Iranian people against imperialism" what a naive, privilege entitled bunch. Let's forget they ignored them while they suffered and were killed.

Yes I hope the Cuban and Iranian regime fall and I don't shed any tears for Maduro. Thankfully Assad was toppled but I'm sure some people were upset about that as well.

@theotherfossilsister many times these situations are very complicated and long starting but the average person in the West only knows about it when it escalates or because Trump is involved.

I really hope Iranians get their moment soon, and we see the same celebrations as in Venezuela. Poor people

Thank you, I hope so too but I'm sure some idiots will protest if that happen "in solidarity with the Iranian people"

I live in Chicago and there are protests demanding Maduro is released 😂. Tbh though they are known professional protestors who are paid so they don't even know what they are protesting about, just repeating the slogans that they were fed.

Yes I saw some of that on IG, NYC I think too? Juxtaposed against Venezuelans celebrating. I love their take on it all, some real this is us our moment sod off posts - the latter that is.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-diaspora-celebrates-maduros-deposition-wonders-whats-next-2026-01-03/

Mumsnet is comedy gold, anything to hate Trump, utterly hilarious.

Stupid like a fox then.

Someone upthread pointed out that the Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez who has replaced Maduro must have had foreknowledge of Trump’s plan.
That may well be so but it all seems all quite odd. I wonder if the whole truth will come out.

Quite a lot of disinformation ramping up. This picture, purporting to show crowds celebrating in Caracas is actually from 2024.

Take everything with a grain of salt

It's a few things. But it isn't a war. The US just went in and got Maduro. Maduro is not recognised by most countries including the UK and the European Union. He seized power after losing the last election.

The US is a net exporter of oil. They have lots of light crude they export and import heavy crude. They don't really need Venezuelan oil. But they don't want Russia and China having influence in South America.

Maduro is a tyrant who oppresses his people. He has run the economy into the ground and failed to invest in their only industry (oil) by letting the infrastructure and equipment rot. He only extracts enough oil to pay himself and his cronies. The people see no benefit from the oil.

I'm inclined to wait and see what happens before passing judgement. Many Venezuelans are happy

TBF, Mnetters do tend to hate serial sex offenders.🤷‍♀️

Hrft (its 3am) but this, absolutely bloody this.
Glad we haven't got oil a drugs problem here..

Nah. It's not hate. It's amazement at how dumb he is.