Reactions in Latin America to the United States’ detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have been divided. In several countries – including Argentina, Colombia and Chile – public opinions have differed from those of the national government. The public has tended to support Maduro’s arrest in countries that have struggled to absorb waves of Venezuelan migrants in recent years. Even states that have objected to his arrest have done so for their own reasons. Mexico has a strong non-interventionist history, and Uruguay has a solid democratic foundation and also tends to disapprove of foreign interference in domestic affairs.
There’s also growing concern over which country could be the next focus of U.S. attention. Every state in the region could be a target under the drug trafficking rationale (though some more than others) and would lack the resources to counter a U.S. military action. The biggest question on most people’s minds, however, is who will assume power in Venezuela. While most Venezuelans favor the opposition, there’s no clear path to elections in the near future. For now, the regime remains in charge, under heavy U.S. pressure.
