John Bolton on Capturing Maduro vs. Removing Venezuela's Regime

Capture of Maduro

• 💡 John Bolton expresses delight at the capture of Nicolas Maduro, wishing it had occurred in 2019.
• ⚠️ He emphasizes a significant difference between capturing Maduro and removing his regime.

Regime Stability and Trump's Stance

• 📌 The regime remains in power despite Maduro's capture, with its roots in Hugo Chavez's 30-year rule.
• 💬 Bolton criticizes Donald Trump's public statements, noting his inexplicable criticism of the Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Machado, and a perceived lack of clarity in Trump's strategy.
• 🌍 The regime has powerful allies, including Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran.

Strategy and Future of Venezuela

• 🎯 Bolton questions the clarity of a plan to run Venezuela if the regime is removed, expressing skepticism about the preparedness of those who might take over.
• 💰 He suggests that Trump's objective might be to go after Maduro on narco-terrorism charges and gain control of Venezuelan oil, which could lower global oil prices and hurt Vladimir Putin.
• 📉 Bolton dismisses the idea that American oil companies will immediately invest in Venezuela, citing the dilapidated state of the oil infrastructure and the need for billions in capital investment, which would take significant time.
• ⏳ He warns that overnight success is unlikely, and any immediate investment without further consideration would be a breach of fiduciary duty by oil company executives.