The United States has placed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in its crosshairs, offering a $50 million reward for his arrest. The US accuses Maduro of leading a drug trafficking organization and facilitating the entry of illegal Iranian immigrants, leading to global scrutiny. Venezuela’s foreign minister has dismissed the move as baseless.
The US’s aggressive stance is seen by some as a response to past tensions and the inflammatory language used by Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez. Chavez, in power from 1999, was a vocal critic of the US.
**The Chavez Era and US-Venezuela Relations**
Chavez’s presidency began a period of heightened tension between Venezuela and the US. Chavez frequently attacked US leaders, famously referring to President George W. Bush as the devil at the United Nations in 2006. He accused Bush of acting as if he owned the world.
**Chavez’s Verbal Attacks on US Presidents**
In 2011, Chavez labeled Barack Obama a ‘joker’ due to Obama’s criticism of Venezuela’s relationships with Iran and Cuba. Chavez claimed the US was attempting to gain votes by attacking Venezuela.
**Maduro’s Loyalty to Chavez**
Maduro, a close ally and successor of Chavez, served in various high-ranking roles within the Chavez administration. Maduro became acting president after Chavez’s death in 2013, subsequently winning the presidential election.