"NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Jimmy Story, a former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, about the American military buildup in the region and pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. AYESHA RASCOE, HOST: President Trump is ramping up the pressure on Venezuela's leader, President Nicolas Maduro, and has been for weeks now. He's sent warships to the region. The U.S. has carried out strikes on what it says are drug boats, and he's linked Maduro to drug trafficking."
"But after losing an election by over 70 - you know, 70 points last year - 70% of the people went out, voted him out of office - he's not a particularly beloved figure in the country. He's completely beggared the economy. He lost an election, and he's involved with all this other kind of criminality and engagement with our strategic competitor. So I do think his days are numbered."
President Trump has increased pressure on Venezuela with naval deployments to the region, strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, and public accusations linking President Nicolas Maduro to drug trafficking. Maduro denies the accusation and continues to refuse to relinquish power despite losing an election by a large margin and presiding over a collapsed economy. Former U.S. Ambassador Jimmy Story states Maduro is widely unpopular, has beggared the economy, and is entangled in criminality and relations with U.S. strategic competitors. Story assesses Maduro’s hold on power is weakening and says the likelihood of some form of U.S. military action is increasing as pressure mounts.
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