Autocracies under US tutelage: Venezuela, Cuba and the interests of the Trump administration

Claudia Zilla

No 16/2026, SWP Comments from Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs

Abstract: US imperial policy towards Latin America and the Caribbean is characterised by a combination of dominance ambitions and exclusivity claims. Through drastic coercive measures, Washington is forcing an economic transformation in Venezuela without paving the way for a political transition. At the same time, it is imposing a fuel blockade on Cuba and threatening to take over that country. Above all, Germany and the EU should support civil society in Venezuela and Cuba. Furthermore, they should unequivocally acknowledge the already existing violations of international law and adopt a firm stance against the normalisation of violence and disregard for human rights.

Keywords: US imperial policy; Latin America and the Caribbean; economic transformation; Venezuela; Cuba; Donald Trump; violations of international law; disregard for human rights; National Security Strategy (NSS); Delcy Rodríguez; Nicolás Maduro; Marco Rubio; Raúl Castro; Díaz-Canel; oil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:swpcom:340857

DOI: 10.18449/2026C16

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