The United States’ actions in Venezuela highlight its ambitions in the Western Hemisphere, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday, warning that the immediate or long-term outcome of President Nicolás Maduro’s departure is highly uncertain and could have geopolitical implications.
However, “we do not expect Maduro’s departure to lead to immediate actions on the sovereign rating, in part due to Venezuela’s limited commercial and financial ties with the rest of the region,” Fitch said.
The agency noted that although the extent and duration of the effects are still unclear, an abrupt change in Venezuelan leadership or a military escalation could upset the regional political balance, with consequences that would go beyond the country’s borders.
Continue reading: María Corina Machado, Maduro’s opponent, promises to return to Venezuela and demands an election
Fitch warns of security and macroeconomic risks
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado vowed to quickly return to her country, praised U.S. President Donald Trump for overthrowing his enemy Nicolás Maduro and declared her movement is ready to win a free election.
Meanwhile, the Government and the Army showed signs of normality, with the acting president Delcy Rodríguez making the first appointment of her administration.
According to Fitch, if the removal of Maduro or an increase in military tensions leads to a political change in Venezuela, security risks and macroeconomic challenges in neighboring countries could increase.
In the longer term, Fitch indicated that an eventual restoration of Venezuelan oil supply would have the potential to affect crude oil prices, depending on the speed and magnitude with which the country manages to normalize its production and exports in a new political scenario.
With information from Reuters
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