In September this year, the relationship between China and Venezuela was greatly upgraded and the "all-weather strategic partnership" means that Venezuela has become a partner at the same level as Pakistan. Pakistan is the "Pakistan Railway", and Venezuela can also be called the "Venezuelan Railway".
In early December, Maduro announced that he was "massing troops" over the Essequibo issue. At this moment, a fire was lit in the backyard of the United States.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is not over, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues, can Biden, who is already anxious, withstand it?
If this fire burns bigger and bigger, will the United States not be able to protect its backyard?
1. Behind the Essequibo problem
On the surface, the Essex region of Venezuela's dispute with neighboring Guyana is a problem between the two countries, but in essence it is a competition for oil resources and the eruption of long-standing tensions between the United States and Latin American countries.
The Essequibo region is not only geographically important, but also rich in resources, making it a key geopolitical chess game. This area is about 15At 60,000 square kilometres, the size of two-thirds of Guyana, it is not only rich in minerals, but also has important waters connecting to the Atlantic Ocean.
Historically, Venezuela claimed sovereignty over Essequibo, but in 1899 it was assigned to the United Kingdom, which controlled Guyana, by the so-called "International Court of Arbitration". Later, Guyana became independent, but Venezuela never gave up its claim to the Essequibo region.
In 2015, US energy giant ExxonMobil discovered more than 13 billion barrels of oil resources here, and partnered with Guyana** to explore and exploit oil on the Essequibo coast.
13 billion barrels of oil, how much wealth is that?
Because of the oil extraction here, Guyana's GDP has grown dramatically, and ExxonMobil has also made a lot of money.
But what about Venezuela, not a penny of good!
As a result, the dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over Essequibo has gradually heated up until it has erupted.
Why didn't it break out until now?
Because the United States has always supported Guyana.
If you think about it, ExxonMobil is an American company, or a major member of the American oil group, and the United States supports Guyana for its own benefit.
And Venezuela, what is it in the eyes of the United States?Without oil, it wouldn't even be as good as some of Africa's poor countries in the eyes of the United States.
Second, Venezuela and the United States have long had bitter grievances
Although Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, it was previously controlled by American and Western companies, and most of the profits naturally flowed into the wallets of Western capitalists. It wasn't until Chavez came to power that Chávez began to nationalize Venezuela as soon as he came to power, and the backbone of Venezuela, which is also the key to Venezuela's survival - the oil industry was gradually brought under Venezuela's control through the so-called windfall tax. How radical is this nationalization policy?
When the price of oil is between $40 and $70 per barrel, the windfall tax rate is only 20 percent, but when the price of oil exceeds $100 per barrel, the tax rate rises to a staggering 95 percent.
Maduro, on the other hand, is Chávez's comrade-in-arms.
On October 10, 2012, Maduro was appointed deputy by Hugo Chávez, then Venezuela. Two months later, Chavez announced that Maduro would be his first man. A year later, Chávez died of illness, and Maduro "succeeded to the throne before the soul" and became the representative of Venezuela. In April of the same year, he won the ** and became the real **. In 2018, Maduro won the election again and continued his own path. And this time, his term will last until 2025.
Maduro has always been an anti-American fighter. His anti-Americanism is indeed not just talk. In addition to his widespread anti-American rhetoric internationally, he tightly controlled domestic resources and denied American multinationals the opportunity to thoroughly control their country's industry and minerals. And this, obviously, is unacceptable to the Americans. So since 2015, the U.S. has been taking action against Maduro one after another, from assassinations to agitation marches, from coups to asset freezes.
At the beginning of 2019, a major operation against Maduro began. At that time, Maduro was branded as "anti-democratic" by the United States, and everyone in South America shouted and beat him. And the Venezuelan National Assembly has also begun to plot to drive out Maduro. They agitated hundreds of people to march against Maduro. On January 5, Juan Guaidó, president of the National Assembly, was put on the temporary throne. The United States and other Western countries announced their recognition of the Guaidó regime for the first time.
But Maduro still holds most of the power at this point, including the judiciary. The day after Guaidó proclaimed himself temporary, Venezuela's Supreme Court declared that Guaidó's actions were unconstitutional. As a result, Guaidó was frozen in his assets and restricted from leaving the country. Guaidó, who was a little anxious, asked the United States to send troops to help him, and on the other hand, he contacted Colombian drug traffickers, hoping to use these people to help him complete the coup. However, Colombian drug traffickers are notorious and Guaidó asks them for help, putting himself in an unjust situation. Seeing that it could not be sustained, Guaidó illegally crossed the border and went to the United States. And throughout the incident, Maduro has always sat firmly on the Diaoyutai and did not give Guaidó the slightest chance.
It can be seen from this that Maduro's anti-American is not only a "bitter beauty" in Venezuela, but also a new hatred and old hatred.
Diplomatically, Maduro has established positive and friendly diplomatic relations with our country.
Recently, Maduro of Venezuela said this proudly while waving his brand-new Huawei mobile phone in his speech. His words were full of friendship with China and antipathy towards the United States. And his "celebrity quotes" don't stop there. Not long ago, he also publicly said in an interview with a certain **: "Please don't speak English, I don't have an English translator here." I don't think English is needed in the new world. ”
3. Ignition in the backyard of the United States
Since there are new and old hatreds, Maduro will not be polite.
Of course, when to light the fire, it also depends on the timing.
There's never been a better time now.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is not over, but the United States can't even afford shells.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has erupted again, and the brutality of the Israeli army has aroused the public indignation of the international community. No matter how iron-clad Biden supports, he can't withstand the wrath of the whole world.
Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a meeting with Israel**, made it clear: No, you don't have a few months left.
Even the United States abstained for the first time on the UN proposal on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The weakness of the United States can be seen by all.
It is not terrible to be weakened, but what is terrible is to maintain hegemony and maintain huge military spending when it is weak.
Just like an old man, he wants to sprint with young people.
In this case, lighting another fire may be the last straw that breaks the camel's back!
Putin fired the first shot, Hamas fired 5,000 rockets, Maduro lit another fire, can the aging Biden and the aging United States cope with it?
Besides, Essequibo is a real economic benefit, what if it happens?
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