In an analysis published on his X account, the former Ecuadorian leader asserted that Trump and his team knew they would not be able to subdue Caracas with the blockade and that this was beginning to cost them dearly.

“In addition to the operational cost of maintaining a fleet off the Venezuelan coast, US transnational oil companies—among their main financiers—were losing very lucrative business in the South American country,” Correa commented.

In his opinion, the White House chief “had to do something to save face” and that is why he decided to kidnap (Nicolas) Maduro as a “final solution.”

He added that following the US attack on Venezuelan territory in the early hours of January 3, there has been “no regime change or anything of the sort” in the Bolivarian nation.

Correa asserted that what they are really after are business deals for their transnational oil companies, even though Venezuela has always sought foreign investment, but it was the US blockade itself that prevented it.

The former president also considered that Washington is trying to reduce the price of oil in the lead-up to the midterm elections and, additionally, “demonstrate its power to the world and make it clear that they can do whatever they want.”

arc/avr