Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-imposes-sanctions-14-venezuelan-officials-2025-01-10/
This past Friday (January 10th), Canada imposed sanctions on 14 current or former Venezuelan senior government officials. They claimed the individuals were supporting violations to human rights in Venezuela. The sanctions align with sanctions imposed by Canadian allies such as the UK and the US. They aim to communicate a message of “solidarity with the Venezuelan people.” The US and UK went above and beyond by expanding their sanctions. The Venezuelan government stated that sanctions from the US and others have always been rejected by Venezuela. They claimed that they’re illegitimate measures that amount to an economic war designed to cripple Venezuela. The Venezuelan government and its allies have cheered at its resilience as a country despite the sanctions, even though they have historically blamed sanctions for economic hardship periods.
This article demonstrates a stance from Canada and the rest of the Western world against Venezuela. Following the Venezuelan Presidential Crisis, Venezuela has been a country unaligned with the Western world. That continues to be the case and is furthered by sanctions. I believe Venezuela will need a revolution to change their current government to be one that aligns with the Western world, because the government currently has the backing of countries like Russia, China, and Iran. I also think it is so interesting how easy a government could brainwash its citizens. Now, to be fair I am unaware of the current citizen’s response to the event. But, claiming that sanctions are done to cripple Venezuela economically as it actually does struggle economically makes the claim realistic and believable.
Venezuelan sanctioners are classically status quo powers or backed by status quo powers. Venezuelan supporters are Revisionist powers. As a revisionist power themself, Venezuela demonstrates soft power through propaganda to its citizens against countries such as Canada, Britain, and America. Their goal is to influence and coerce their people to believe the lies they’re telling to them. Canada is using hard power through economic sanctions. Their goal is to get Venezuela to stop what they are doing to their citizens, and to stop it as quickly as possible. Because of Venezuela’s status in the international system, Canada does not risk much response from them for the sanctions.