The Biden administration said Monday it has serious concerns with the Venezuelan election but stopped short of declaring the narrow victory of President Nicolas Maduro fraudulent or calling for additional sanctions against the South American country.
In the past, the Biden administration has been quick to reject results from other questionable elections like Nicaragua’s 2021 election and Belarus’ February elections. But U.S. caution highlights Venezuela’s precarious conditions.
The disputed results could spark massive nationwide protests and intense government reprisals, which could further destabilize the country . Further chaos could also exacerbate migration pressures in the region. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014, many seeking asylum in the U.S. and settling in Texas and Florida.
The cautious response also could be an indication that the U.S. sees a possibility that Maduro could be forced to negotiate an exit and wants to avoid tainting that process by prematurely joining calls for a change in government.
Republican lawmakers that represent states and districts with large Venezuelan communities have criticized the administration’s pre-election strategy, which included offering Caracas sanctions relief in exchange for guarantees of a free and fair voting.
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