Bogotá, Colombia – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he will declare a state of exception if the U.S. launches strikes on the country – an option Washington is considering, according to NBC news.
In a speech on Tuesday, Maduro announced he had begun the process of preparing a decree that would expand the government’s domestic powers in the eventuality of a U.S. attack.
The announcement is the latest indication of mounting tensions in the Southern Caribbean, where the Pentagon has amassed some 6,500 troops and considerable naval forces in recent weeks.
“Today the consultation process began … to declare a state of emergency in accordance with the constitution and protect our people, our peace, and our stability if Venezuela were attacked by the American empire, attacked militarily,” said Maduro in a televised speech on Tuesday.
Phil Gunson, a Senior Analyst at International Crisis Group, explained the impact a state of emergency would have.
“The decree would allow the government to requisition any private property and oblige citizens to perform any task it deems necessary,” said the analyst, who is based in Caracas.
However, he downplayed the gravity of a state of emergency, explaining that much of Venezuela’s constitutional rights have already been suspended in practice.
“Some, including human rights defenders, are merely shrugging their shoulders, since things could hardly get worse,” said the analyst.
Maduro’s announcement comes days after a report that the U.S. military is preparing options to strike drug traffickers within Venezuela’s borders.
Such a move would mark an escalation in Washington’s ongoing military campaign which has destroyed three alleged Venezuelan drug boats in international waters this month, killing 17 people.
While the White House’s campaign is purportedly targeted at drug trafficking, many view it as part of a plot to overthrow Maduro. The New York Times reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe back regime change through force.
But strikes within Venezuelan territory are unlikely to achieve regime change, according to Gunson. He explained that attacks on drug producing facilities in the country’s interior “would probably only cause the upper ranks to stick more closely together.”
Urban attacks and targeted assassinations may rattle the political leadership but are unlikely to trigger regime change, added Gunson.
“Many of course have a price on their heads and the U.S. is threatening to ‘bring them to justice’. They will still be inclined to stay put,” explained the analyst.
He also noted that Venezuela’s opposition – members of which are in talks with the White House, according to the New York Times – is not in a position to challenge Maduro due to state repression and a lack of leadership.
Conditions in Venezuela may instead favor a mediated solution backed by the likes of Richard Grenell, the White House’s envoy to the country. Grenell reportedly backs a diplomatic approach and is at odds with more hawkish members of the administration.
Featured image description: Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro
Featured image credit: Wikipedia
