A few days ago, the well-known former vice president of Colombia, former ambassador to Washington and journalist Francisco Santos wrote an opinion column in which he claimed that the Venezuelan opposition, led by María Corina Machado, was being kidnapped.
In the article, Santos argues that Machado's leadership was a victim of the deals made between the Nicolás Maduro regime and the Joe Biden administration, which does not see democracy and the liberation of Venezuela as a priority. To talk about his column, the latest events in Venezuela (such as the regime's illegal ratification of Machado's disqualification, the eventual reimposition of sanctions by the United States and the repression against dissent) and the position that should be taken by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his government, Santos sat down with Voz Media.
In an exclusive interview, Santos said that "María Corina managed to become the only legitimate opposition leader to confront Maduro" after her disqualification. Likewise, according to the former Colombian vice president, the attack against her split the region in two: "It united the bloc of almost all the countries on the continent that condemned that decision, with the exception of Colombia and Brazil."
"That puts the United States between a rock and a hard place. Who is it going to play with? With all the countries or with Maduro? That's why I think this move works out well for María Corina, but she has to continue raising her profile. ... She can't give an inch," he said.
However, for Santos, it is a mistake that Machado gives the United States so much control over her strategy, since the position of the White House regarding Venezuela is not clear.
"But they knew, as we all knew, that they were not going to enable it. And María Corina, for the first time, accepted the recognition of a completely illegitimate institution, which is that Supreme Court, and by accepting that she put herself in their hands," he said.
"María Corina accepted because the United States has been the architect of all these policies—although this government, Biden's, has only favored Maduro. They set a trap for her and made her a hostage of that institution."
Francisco Santos assured that Venezuela's liberation does not depend on an external force. In this case, he insisted, it depends on Venezuelans themselves and the leadership of María Corina Machado. He added that she is at risk.
Regarding Gustavo Petro's government in Colombia, the journalist also said that it is a mistake to consider him an ally of the opposition in Venezuela. According to Santos, Petro will do everything possible to support Nicolás Maduro. Any demand for his government to side with the liberation of Venezuela is a cry to the void.
