Washington, DC

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has delivered a strong critique of President Donald Trump’s Venezuela policy, warning that it could result in contradictory outcomes and derail genuine political reform despite recent high-profile developments, including the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Speaking to ANI, Bolton said Trump’s handling of Venezuela lacked coherence, cautioning that such an approach could lead to “the worst of both possible worlds.” He argued that while Washington has a strategic interest in dismantling the Maduro regime, the administration has failed to follow through in a consistent manner.

Bolton noted that although Maduro has been removed from power, much of the existing power structure remains untouched. “It’s in the interest of the US for important reasons to remove the Maduro regime,” he said, adding that Trump’s actions have left the broader system intact, weakening prospects for meaningful change.

He also pointed to mixed messaging from the White House, particularly Trump’s public criticism of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whom Bolton described as a democratic figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, while simultaneously expressing willingness to engage with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, a close ally of Maduro.

According to Bolton, the policy direction lacks clarity and strategic logic. “It really has no rational foundation and reflects confused decision-making,” he remarked.

Expanding on the broader strategy, Bolton said stronger economic pressure during Trump’s first term could have altered the course of events. He argued that sustained sanctions and economic leverage might have led to the collapse of the Maduro government had they been applied more decisively at the time.

Bolton further suggested that Trump’s personal priorities often shape foreign policy decisions. He observed that the former president prefers tangible outcomes and is currently focused on energy considerations, particularly Venezuela’s oil sector. “The oil issue matters politically for him in the US because he wants to keep fuel prices low,” Bolton said.

His comments follow dramatic developments in Venezuela earlier this month. On January 3, the US launched what it described as a large-scale operation in the country, during which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained in Caracas and subsequently flown out as part of a joint mission involving US intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Following the operation, Trump announced that Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges related to alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies.

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Earlier this week, Maduro entered a plea of not guilty during his first appearance in a New York federal court. He challenged the legality of his arrest, claiming he was detained at his residence in Caracas, an argument that is expected to form a key part of his legal defence.

Maduro’s lawyers have described the operation as a “military abduction,” asserting that it violated international law and due process. According to CNN, the defence team maintains that the arrest by US authorities on foreign soil was unlawful.