Only Trump Can Stop China From Taking Over Venezuela

America’s enemies are gaining ground in the Western Hemisphere, and Washington has been asleep at the wheel. Venezuela is sliding deeper into the grip of the Chinese Communist Party. It’s not because the Venezuelan people chose Beijing. It’s because failed policies from weak leaders in Washington left a vacuum, and China stepped in.

But we also know what works. In January, just days into his administration, President Donald Trump was able to achieve a quick victory by mixing pressure with diplomacy. With just one strategic visit from a Trump envoy, six Americans were freed from wrongful imprisonment and deportation flights resumed. Caracas even provided its own aircraft and paid the costs.

No other leader, Republican or Democrat, has achieved anything close.

Unfortunately, whenever establishment politicians are put in charge, Washington falls back into a pattern of feckless sanctions with no plan and no leverage. This is what happened with Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and Biden. The result? Maduro is still in power, the Venezuelan people are suffering, and China is laughing all the way to the bank.

Let’s be clear: sanctions haven’t brought about regime change. But they’ve done a great job of pushing Venezuela into China’s arms. Before the onset of sanctions, the US was Venezuela’s top trading partner for both imports and exports. Since, China has taken over, buying up oil, dominating the mining industry, and squeezing out U.S. companies that once supplied the country with equipment and goods.

Beijing now gets more than twice as much Venezuelan oil as we do. Why? Because our own sanctions restrict American purchases, while China does whatever it wants. It’s not just about oil. Chinese companies are now the exclusive buyers of strategic minerals like tin, gold, and rare earths. And since sanctions create discounts, they’re getting them on the cheap, while the American people feel pain at the pump.

Let’s not forget: Venezuelans still want to buy American. They prefer U.S. products, culture, and values. Venezuela is the only South American country that favors baseball over soccer. Before the hawks pushed for endless sanctions, the country’s streets were filled with Chevrolets, Fords, Jeeps and other American-made goods. Now, China is flooding the market with low-grade alternatives because Washington policies made it impossible for U.S. businesses to compete.

The biggest insult? This situation is actually helping to fuel the illegal immigration crisis in the U.S., while China watches from across the Pacific. As Venezuela’s economy collapses and opportunity disappears, millions have fled, many ending up at our southern border. While China profits, Americans pay the price.

Here’s the truth the Washington establishment doesn’t want to admit: we don’t need to invade Venezuela or pour billions into another foreign aid disaster. We just need a smart leader who knows how to strike a deal.

President Trump is that leader.

He’s proven he can get hostages home, restart deportation flights, and bring American leverage back into the hemisphere, all without giving anything away. No one else in Washington has the guts or the skill to do what he did.

Joe Biden couldn’t even negotiate a handshake. His administration didn’t secure a single meaningful deal with Venezuela, or with anyone else, for that matter. While he dithered, China moved in.

It’s time to stop losing to the CCP in our own backyard. We need strength, strategy, and leadership. We need President Trump back at the table, doing what he does best.

Elias Ferrer is a journalist and analyst specializing in energy markets, geopolitics, and Latin American affairs based in Caracas.  He is the founder and director of Orinoco Research, an advisory firm based in Venezuela. Ferrer regularly contributed to Forbes, focusing on global energy markets. His work has also appeared in the Financial Times, and Le Monde Diplomatique. Ferrer holds a degree in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.