Honorable Dr. Marco Rubio
United States Secretary of State
Washington, D.C.
Dear Secretary of State:
I was born in Washington, at the Walter Reed Military Hospital. I graduated from high school in Arlington, Virginia. Therefore, I have a close historical relationship with the United States, a country that I appreciate and admire. I am writing to you respectfully to warn you about the serious risk that the three-phase plan promoted by the United States for Venezuela will fail miserably if the corrective measures that the new circumstances demand are not adopted in a timely manner.
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelans, happy and hopeful, tolerated the interim regime of Delcy Rodríguez, trusting that, under the tutelage of the United States, it would be possible to begin the path towards the recovery of democracy. However, that expectation faded after the earthquakes of June 24. Once again, the regime abandoned the victims to their fate, allowing many to lose their lives and even hindering rescue efforts undertaken by international teams.
The events of June 24 and the following days put an end to tolerance towards the interim regime and exhausted the patience of Venezuelans. As a consequence, there is a high risk of a social outbreak, regardless of whether María Corina Machado returns to the country or not. The immense pain of those who have lost everything, added to the perception of a regime that is insensitive and oblivious to the suffering of the population, is generating an unstoppable social force, capable of endangering the stability that has required so much effort to build over the last six months.
In these circumstances, the only alternative to avoid a social explosion would be to replace the interim regime with an emergency government made up of Venezuelans of recognized competence, without immediate electoral aspirations. Its mission would consist, in coordination with the United States, of directing national reconstruction, providing guarantees for foreign investment and, once institutional conditions are reestablished, calling free and transparent elections.
The history of Venezuela demonstrates that, in times of crisis, the figure of an emergency government has made it possible to successfully channel transition processes. An example of this was the Patriotic Junta that assumed power in 1958 after the overthrow of Marcos Pérez Jiménez and led the transition to the longest democratic period in the country’s contemporary history. I trust that this occasion will not be the exception.
Allow me to conclude by expressing to you that the Shield of the Americas constitutes, in my opinion, one of the greatest strategic successes of recent decades, by offering an effective mechanism to confront drug cartels and transnational organized crime. This initiative will soon have the support of the governments of Keiko Fujimori and Abelardo de la Espriella.
However, if the interim regime remains in power, there is a risk that this valuable initiative will fail, as Chavismo will try to sabotage it from the shadows to favor the interests of drug trafficking. On the contrary, an emergency government that inspires confidence would allow Venezuela to fully join the Shield of the Americas and fight against these scourges, together with the other nations of the continent.
Without further ado, and remaining at your disposal to expand on the approaches presented here, I reiterate my gratitude and my highest consideration.
Very sincerely,
Alejandro Peña Esclusa
