Link to Article: New York Jury Convicts Venezuelan for Major Cocaine Trafficking
The United States war on drugs continues with Venezuelan official Carlos Orense being found guilty of trafficking thousands of Kilos of Cocaine into the US. This conviction blows the top off on a massive scandal involving corruption of certain individuals. Carlos Orense was arrested and convicted on three counts. Not only drug trafficking but possession of a legal weapon as well. This case sheds light on a very high connection between the underground world of drug trafficking and high ranking political officers. Carlos Orense pleaded not guilty, in response top federal prosecutor Damian Williams said this, “Partnered with corrupt high ranking government and military officials in Venezuela and employed an arsenal of high powered weapons to protect his cocaine distribution and organization.” This situation as a whole has not contributed to the relationship between Venezuela and the United States in a positive way, which prior to this was already in a bit of a rough spot. Ramifications could mean a big move in the right direction on the war on drugs but the relationship between the two nations could be jeopardized as a result.
Thinking of different issues and points of conflict when it comes to different relationships that the US has with its neighboring nations, the drug crisis is one of the first to come to mind. Battles with various drug cartels have historically been a massive point of aggression between American politicians and the respective international officials. Therefore movement towards destroying cartels and their operations at its core can prove to be very beneficial. It can’t hurt right? What about an alternative approach? Possible steps toward ending the US population’s dependency on these various substances should be taken. At least more of it. Causing different cartels to become redundant in the public eye. While this way of thinking could be considered irrational with the possibility of this world becoming a reality being very unlikely. Working towards both outcomes simultaneously will only help the situation rather than causing it to erupt. The conviction of Orense will do nothing but help, I just can’t help but think what else could be done to diffuse this situation as a whole.
According to international dependency theory there is a vast and maticulaouse interconnection between the ways sovereign states conduct business with one another. The relationship between the United States and Venezuela could take a turn for the worst, if it does it won’t spell bad news for just these two parties directly involved in the conflict. Most of the trade conducted between the two nations is agricultural, the goods made from these traded products are sold and distributed to other parties indirectly. In a worse case scenario situation trade between the US and Venezuela could be stopped meaning that other nations in the region and likely all over the world will have to adapt. It all stems from conflict and contention completely unrelated to trade.