Relations between the United States and Venezuela are even more
The Minister of American Justice, Pam Bondi, has just announced that a well -salted bonus was now attributed to anyone who would provide information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Accused of drug trafficking by Washington, Maduro is the number one target. Today, the award amounts to $ 50 million, clearly signs that Washington is not kidding to put an end to what he denounces as an illegal and corrupt regime.
A premium never seen
The announcement of Thursday, August 8, surprised everyone and marks a new stage in tense relations between the two countries. The premium, initially set at $ 25 million, was doubled to reach $ 50 million – or around 43 million euros. This amount even exceeds the premium offered for Osama bin Laden. Pam Bondi said that “under the leadership of President Trump, Maduro will not escape justice and will have to answer for his abject crimes.” These words clearly show that Washington is resolved to track Nicolás Maduro until his arrest.
Heavy and detailed accusations
Nicolás Maduro faces a series of weight accusations. According to the American authorities, the Venezuelan president is involved in drug trafficking and large -scale corruption. It would be linked to several Venezuelan gangs and cartels, including the formidable Los Soles cartel, famous for transit fentanyl on American soil (fentanyl: a very powerful opioid drug). In 2020, a Manhattan Federal Court accused him for narcoterrorism and conspiracy aimed at bringing large quantities of cocaine in the United States. He is also accused of having collaborated with the Farc, the Venezuelan gang Tren of Aragua as well as with the Mexican cartel of Sinaloa.
Reactions that detonate
The response was not long in coming in Venezuela. The local government has dealt with this American maneuver as “pathetic”, according to the words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yvan Gil, who described the operation “gross political propaganda operation” mounted by Pam Bondi. Gil also denounced what he calls a “media circus” intended to seduce the American political factions opposed to the Caracas government.
On the United States side, Christopher Landau, number two of American diplomacy, underlined the historical nature of this bonus by declaring: “It is the most important premium in our history”. In addition, Washington has already confiscated more than $ 700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets and almost seven tonnes of cocaine.
The complicated political scene
Despite all this international pressure, Nicolás Maduro remains in control in Venezuela. His re-election in 2024, which was not recognized by the United States, the European Union and several countries in Latin America, is perceived as a deception. These entities rather recognize Edmundo González as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Even before the American presidential nomination last January, the Biden government had already denounced that of Maduro as “illegitimate”.
In this tense climate, Washington and Caracas have initiated negotiations on various humanitarian and economic agreements. Last July, an agreement enabled the release of ten Americans imprisoned in Caracas, in exchange for the return to Venezuela of migrants expelled by the United States to Salvador.