Venezuelan Autocrat, Nicolás Maduro, has won his bid for re-election, and absolutely no one is surprised... To even call it an "election" is to undermine the very essence of democracy. Maduro, who is being investigated by the United Nations for crimes against humanity, was fairly beaten by his political adversary, little-known diplomat, Edmundo González, who served as a placeholder for the more widely supported opposition leader, María Corina Machado, a prominent critic of Maduro’s regime who had been barred from running by the Venezuelan government. Despite election tallies showing that González won by a landslide margin of nearly 30%, Venezuela's electoral body announced that Maduro had won the election and secured another six-year term in office. So long as Maduro remains in power, Venezuela has no shot at a free and fair democratic process. World, say hello to your newest dictator!

The United States was one of the first nations to condemn Maduro's fraudulent election results, declaring it as "clear" that Edmundo González had won the most votes. But we aren't the only ones. Neighboring Brazil, a close Venezuelan ally and trading partner, issued its own statement expressing caution in accepting Maduro's victory (I.E., they don't believe him). Within days of the election results being announced, nations across the globe voiced their skepticism over Maduro’s self-proclaimed victory. That is, barring one black sheep... Of the few countries that have not decried Maduro's phony election, one is, of course, Russia. In a statement put out by the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin actually congratulated Maduro on his re-election, declaring that the relationship between Russia and Venezuela "fully meets the interests of our friendly peoples and is in line with building a more just and democratic world order". Did you expect anything else?

HISTORY

History has a funny way of repeating itself, especially in the realm of geopolitics. Whereas communist Cuba once served as a war proxy for the Soviet Union during the 1960s, we now see shades of Fidel Castro in Venezuela's radically anti-democratic leader—the chief difference being, that Castro was beloved by many Cubans, while Maduro is despised by just about every Venezuelan man, woman, and child. Like Castro before him, Maduro has isolated his nation from the democratic world, leading to a cascade of global sanctions on trade. Enter Russia, the ever-present beacon for beleaguered dictators. 

In the ongoing Cold War, which, fortunately, has never warmed, both the United States and the Soviets/Russians have consistently used proxies as a substitute for open conflict. While boots are yet to be placed on either American or Russian soil (thank god), proxy conflicts across the globe have been funded and perpetuated by both sides for over 70 years... In the 1960s, the two superpowers clashed through a proxy war in Vietnam. The Soviet Union supported Ho Chi Minh's North Vietnamese nationalist forces, while the United States attempted to stabilize the very country it played a role in destabilizing during the 1954 Geneva Conference. Nearly 60,000 American soldiers lost their lives in Vietnam, none at the hands of a Russian soldier. However, with Russia supplying the ammunition, artillery, and anti-aircraft missiles, their culpability in the conflict is undeniable. During this same period, the Red Wave reached the shores of Cuba, less than 100 miles from American soil. Given Cuba's proximity to the United States, Fidel Castro and his regime, like Vietnam, became a crucial proxy for the Soviets during the Cold War. Note: Had it not been for American President John Kennedy's sheer composure (and a pivotal strategic discussion with former president Dwight Eisenhower) de-escalation of the Cuban missile crisis would not have been possible; Imagine our leaders today navigating a crisis of that magnitude. 

Maduro and his anti-democratic regime are merely the latest in a series of dictators who have been leveraged as geographical pawns in a strategic chess game between two global superpowers. The question that begs to be asked now is: how far is Venezuela from the coast of Miami? 

TODAY

Today, the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia serves as another proxy battle between the U.S. and Russia. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, America has sent over $55.4 billion in military assistance. For reference, our national deficit is $1.61 trillion. I wonder what we could do with $55.4 billion...  American Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, would justify our involvement by saying something along the lines of, "It is America's duty, as the world's superhero, to uphold democracy and freedom across the globe, protecting against Russian aggression and squashing Putin's dreams of reclaiming USSR territories". With all due respect to Ms. Jean-Pierre, others would see it differently. Take Senator Lindsey Graham for example, who unabashedly claimed that our involvement was more so about the 12 trillion-dollar gold mine of natural minerals and resources that lie beneath Zelinsky size seven shoes (I know, low-hanging fruit). 

When will the war in Ukraine end? That depends on how you define a militaristic conclusion. Some might argue that the Cold War ended in 1991 when Mr. Gorbachev "tore down that wall" in Berlin. Others would contend that a cool chill has lingered around the globe for the three decades since. But as proxies pop-up across the world, reminiscent of the 1960s, it seems that the cool chill is once again turning frigid.

MA

Michael A. Ruotolo is a Director of Communications and Public Relations Specialist who writes on a variety of topics, including politics, market trends, and current events.

For inquiries, email michaelanthonyruotolo@gmail.com