Opposition figure, Juan Guaidó, was expelled by countries ranging from Colombia to Florida following a years-long campaign to oust the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. His expulsion was just hours after entering the country’s capital, Bogota, in an “irregular manner.” The United States government and many of its allies condemned the move as undemocratic while ignoring the will of the Venezuela people. After he being the self proclaimed “Interim President of Venezuela” from early 2019 to early 2023, the opposition-partied parliament launched an attempted coup d’etat against the reelected President Nicolás Maduro after he and the Organization of American States claimed voter fraud in the 2018 presidential election. This then led to a massive embargo of the nation by several European nations and the United States who sided with Guaidó.

The embargo continues to affect the citizens of Venezuela and is a major factor keeping oil and gas prices high around the world as it prevents oil from being exported to western nations. In Venezuela, they have low gas prices but higher prices in other goods. Even during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, critical medical supplies were blocked from entering the nation along with vaccines due to the embargo of the nation.

“This is a moment for the international community to do more on behalf of democracy,” Mr. Guaidó says. “The tools that we have to confront dictatorships, like sanctions, have to be exercised with strength.” 

It is unclear what Guaidó’s definition of the international community is. A majority of the world’s countries that have commented on the election recognized President Nicolás Maduro since he assumed the office in March of 2013 with only a handful, 15, of mostly western nations recognizing Guaidó. Most of the Latin American countries have stood by with Maduro for what many have called American interference. Guaidó has not run for any government position in Venezuela since 2015 which has led to his support waning and him leaving the country for Colombia and the United States.