Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza - Canada’s Interference in Venezuela

August 20, 2020

The Canadian Foreign Policy Institute hosted a webinar featuring Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who spoke directly from Caracas on Canada’s interference in Venezuela.

Nearly two years ago, the Trudeau government threw its support behind a US-backed plan to declare an opposition politician, Juan Guaido, “interim leader” of Venezuela.

Since then, the Trump administration has orchestrated numerous coup attempts and appealed for an army mutiny against the country’s elected president, Nicolás Maduro. To this end, it has adopted extreme unilateral coercive economic measures against the socialist Latin American state.

The Canadian government has also sanctioned Venezuelan officials and built up an international coalition through the Lima Group, a multilateral body dedicated to a “peaceful exit to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.”

Trudeau and Trump’s efforts to stoke a revolt are having an ever-greater impact on the lives of ordinary Venezuelans. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), 40,000 people have died between 2017 and 2018 as a result of punitive sanctions. At the same time, Guaidó’s chances of taking power are slimmer today than at any point since he claimed the presidency.

Still, the Trudeau government has maintained its support for Washington’s regime change efforts.

This event was organized by the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and co-sponsored by Common Frontiers and the Canadian Latin America Alliance. Media Sponsor: Canadian Dimension.