Over the past few years, Venezuela has been battered by a full-scale socioeconomic collapse. Marred by political instability, an authoritarian government, and a currency meltdown, the country was already facing shortages of food, fuels, and basic goods. In Venezuelan hospitals, medicine and equipment were scarce — and the country had only 73 critical care beds to over 28 million people.
And that was before the coronavirus threat came to the Americas.
To make matters worse, the U.S. government has officially accused President Nicolás Maduro of narcoterrorism, money laundering, and drug trafficking, placing a USD 15-million bounty for information leading to his capture and conviction. U.S. Attorney General William Barr said Mr. Maduro and former government officials have worked with Colombian guerillas, turning Venezuela into a hub for drug shipments to the U.S.
“We’re going to explore all options for getting custody,” Mr. Barr told reporters. “Hopefully, the Venezuelan people will see what’s going on and will eventually regain control of their country.” These words echo the 1988 indictment of former Panamanian ruler Manuel...
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