Venezuela

To: President Trump

CC: Vice President Pence

From: Secretary of State Rachel Sousa

Date: March 29, 2018

Subject: Venezuelan Crisis

Context

Currently, Venezuela is in a political and societal crisis. The Venezuelan people are starving, inflation is at an all-time high, and a corrupt government continues to exploit its people. Protests storm the streets day after day and negotiations are unsuccessful between citizens and the government. The plight of Venezuela cannot be ignored and it is in desperate need of aid. It is in the best interest that The United States help ease the suffering of the Venezuelan people and promote democracy through humanitarian efforts.

Task

Helping Venezuela during their time of need would be a good opportunity for the U.S. to repair its relations with the Latin American community. Not only would it be beneficial to have a better relationship with Venezuela and neighboring countries, it is the moral thing to do. People are starving to death and being murdered by their own government during protests. This is a cry for help. America needs to send food, water, and supplies to Venezuelan citizens and back the protesters in their efforts for a better country.

Solution

The solution to Venezuela’s problem will not be fixed over-night and cannot be solely fixed by America, however, easing the suffering and showing support for a governmental change is needed. By sending in troops and non-governmental organizations to the country, the people can be fed, their illnesses may be treated through prescriptions they are being denied, and their efforts can be recognized by one of the most influential countries in the world. Our stance on the matter, to support the protests and help sustain the protesters, will have a ripple affect across the globe. The only refreshments the country has is Coca-Cola and bottle water. Food is scarce and agriculture is almost non-existent as they mainly import their food. Sending Americans to help farm the land could not only help feed the country but it could also help them export crops to gain some revenue. The goal is not to politically intervene with aggression and war but to use humanitarian efforts to aid the people; in that, we could further encourage progress in the government.

Evidence

Venezuela has a straight shot to Florida. This has proven to be a route for drugs to be smuggled into our country. It would be in our best interest to have Venezuela a foreign policy ally to end this drug crisis. Not only does America have an interest in ending the importation of lethal drugs into the country but we have a direct interest in protecting, preserving, and spreading democracy. Venezuela is in a pivotal place right now where the country could end in civil war, a dictatorship, or democracy. It is our responsibility to ensure the country ends in the latter. Previously, The United States has intervened in countries like Chile to replace leftist groups with rightist governments. It has not been as successful, which may deter us to remain on the sidelines during this time. However, it is now time to repair the damage that we have inflicted in this area in previous years.

Failed Solutions

As previously mentioned, the United States has had its fair share of mistakes in this area before. We put in General Pinochet into power who ended up as a dictator that exploited his people, yet we supported him. The United States supported uprising against a democratically elected president. America went against its own beliefs and ideologies that we promote constantly. We let the Chilean people down and we are not allowed to do that again to the Venezuelan people.

Implementation

Gaining support from American NGO’s to travel to Venezuela is crucial to implementing our plan. One non-governmental organization, Food Tank, works on changing the food system across the globe. They work to stop hunger and poverty and to promote healthier eating habits. They would be a perfect group to send to Venezuela to send food and possibly work on farming techniques with Venezuelans. Sending humanitarian groups to the country would give a sense of relief for their people and also not give the impression that the United States is using military intervention.

Summary

Venezuela has a crisis on their hands as their people are fighting for justice and democracy while their government has let them down. Inflation is continuing to sky-rocket, grocery store shelves remain bare, prescriptions are unavailable, and people are being murdered by their own government. The United States should intervene for a couple of reasons. The first is that Venezuela is in close enough proximity that there is a direct route to Florida. Through this route, illegal immigrants and drugs may enter the country. Based upon that fact, Venezuela is a foreign policy concern. The second reason the United States should intervene is because our country’s premise for existing is to promote democracy across the globe. Previously, the United States intervened in this area of the globe and only promoted dictatorships rather than democracy. Beginning with humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering and showing our support for what the protesters are doing is just the first step.

Acosta, Deborah. "Venezuela on the Brink." The New York Times. July 28, 2017. Accessed 

March 29, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/100000005312007/venezuela-protest-maduro-elections.html.