Washington’s Cynical Overture to Venezuela Symbolizes Multipolarity’s Benefits

Empowering Weak & Oppressed

Crescent International

Sha'ban 10, 1443 2022-03-13

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

Officials from the White House traveled to Caracas to talk oil with the Venezuelan government whom it has been trying to overthrow, surprised many observers.

It should not.

In the new multipolar world order, NATO regimes will have to learn to make compromises with countries that they have hitherto targeted.

Senior Ameircan officials on March 5 visited Caracas even though the US along with several other NATO regimes recognize Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s “president.”

The farcical nature of this decision can be gleaned from the fact that he did not even run for president in 2018.

While the trip to meet Venezuelan officials might be seen as Washington playing realpolitik, it symbolizes much more.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO regimes have been scrambling to find substitutes for Russian energy products on the global markets.

While it may be viewed primarily as an economic endeavor, western weaponization of economics, currency and trade makes attempts to find substitutes for Russian energy products a lot harder.

The Venezuelan side clearly does not see the cynical US overture simply in economic terms.

Prominent Venezuela-focused analytical website, articulated the visit by US officials as follows: “Washington is seeking to isolate Moscow from its allies in Latin America but Venezuela has maintained support for Russia… Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who directly participated in the meeting, instead demanded broader sanctions relief and the return of foreign assets such as oil subsidiary CITGO.”

Venezuela is not the only country which wants to exact a political price for US cynicism.

Reports of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman snubbing President Joe Biden’s phone call is another indicator that the economic reconfiguration of western economies to hurt Russia will result in political reconfiguration as well.

The Saudis are also trying to exploit the emerging multipolarity but the archaic regime in Riyadh is unlikely to succeed.

Due to the nature of energy markets and products, NATO regimes will not be able to strongarm developing countries into supplying western Europe and other markets with energy products to undercut Russia’s revenues.

First, recalibration of energy supplies requires time. The same applies to making sustainable political and economic deals.

Second, instability in energy rich countries and the routes the substitutes for Russian energy products will follow will drive up prices and make the supply unreliable.

Both factors will reduce the ability of NATO regimes to pressure uncooperative governments via hard power tactics.

Such tactics would play into Russia’s hands and increase its leverage.

These factors will force NATO regimes and primarily the US, to make compromises.

It will be a difficult road as arrogance, termed “exceptionalism” by US oligarchs, is deeply ingrained in American political culture.

If Washington is unable to dampen its arrogance, it will be left with having to deal with a lot more determined Russian government and economically better off Russia than today.

Such a scenario will prolong the global standoff with Russia and China on terms highly unfavorable to NATO regimes.

During the ongoing NATO vs Russia struggle, which is likely to continue for some time, even if Vladimir Putin loses the presidency, NATO regimes will have to negotiate economic deals at significant political costs.

This time, however, the terms and conditions will not be dictated by NATO regimes alone.

There are many more contenders for power and influence.

Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use
Copyrights © 1436 AH
Sign In
 
Forgot Password?
 
Not a Member? Signup

Loading...