US increases reward for Nicolás Maduro to $50 million

The US government has raised the reward for information on Nicolás Maduro amid ongoing political tensions.

US increases bounty on Nicolás Maduro to $50 million

The US government has raised the bounty for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million. This announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who accused Maduro of facilitating drug trafficking to the US. For years, Maduro has been linked to the Cártel de los Soles, which Rubio claims is responsible for smuggling drugs into the country. Despite these allegations, Maduro denies any wrongdoing. The reward increase follows a recent licence granted to Chevron, which allows the company to resume oil production in Venezuela, a move seen as controversial among critics. Venezuela's government has dismissed the higher reward as a mere political stunt.

The doubling of the reward for Maduro signifies a sharp rhetorical escalation in US-Venezuelan relations. Critics of the Biden administration argue that granting Chevron a licence to operate in Venezuela contradicts efforts to hold Maduro accountable for his alleged crimes. This complex interplay highlights the tensions between US foreign policy and the realities on the ground in Venezuela, where many believe that economic and humanitarian crises are being exacerbated by external pressures and sanctions.

Highlights

The international community watches closely as the situation in Venezuela evolves.