Why the United States’ maximum pressure approach towards Nicolás Maduro is unlikely to stabilise Venezuela

At the end of March, the US Justice Department charged Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and other government officials with “narcoterrorism”. Along with sanctions and naval counternarcotics operations near Venezuela, the charges are part of the Trump administration’s campaign to oust Maduro. Even if this strategy ultimately proves successful, it will do little to help re-establish democracy in the long term, writes John Polga-Hecimovich (US Naval Academy).