Link to article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54354225
In Venezuela, frequent power cuts and shortages of fuel and drinking water have caused hundreds of protests across the country in the past few days. Many say that the basic services in their community have stopped functioning, and the government has done barely anything to help.
Even though Venezuela has struggled with shortages of petrol, cooking gas, basic hygiene and food items, and clean water in years past, the coronavirus pandemic has increased the severity of the problems. Back in February, research shows that one in three Venezuelans were already unable to get enough food to meet minimum nutrition requirements; once the pandemic caused everyone to stay home in lockdown, the demand for already scarce items increased drasticly.
Venezuelan security forces have responded responded to the protests by firing tear gas and rubber bullets. President Nicolas Maduro has not yet made a statement about the protests, but recently acknowledged the collapse of Venezuela’s oil industry.
The shortages in Venezuela not only impact the interior of the country, but its relationships with other countries. It’s obvious to the 65% of the population who are unable to buy food and other essential items and are also dealing with shortages of petrol, cooking gas, and clean water that the government is simply neglecting them. This leads to civil unrest: protesting and violence among the streets. Government officials in Venezuela are already under investigation by the United Nations for crimes against humanity including cases of killings, torture, violence, and disappearances.
Although underinvestment and mismanagement by the Venezuelan government can be blamed for the collapse of its oil industry, recent U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector have caused production to cease almost at a standstill. The U.S. has made it extremely difficult for Venezuela to import petrol, therefore causing the shortages among the country.
Because of the U.S.’s involvement, Venezuela has turned to one of their enemies for help: Iran. The tension arising from this internal problem of Venezuela will certainly cause even more strained relationships in the future involving trade and the economy, especially since the United States in such a strong world power.
On the domestic/state level, the shortages in Venezuela can be said to have stemmed from solely the underinvestment and mismanagement by the Venezuelan government’s involvement in the oil industry. However, at the global level, it can also be said that the collapse was caused 100% by the tough U.S. sanctions on the oil sector and restrictions on importation.