CARACAS — A charismatic, 35-year-old politician steps out before a crowd of thousands in Venezuela and claims the presidency in the biggest challenge to date to the country’s autocratic leader. Within minutes, the United States — followed by dozens of countries — throws its support behind the challenger, Juan Guaidó, backed by crippling sanctions designed to weaken the current government and reinforce his hand. That was last January — the beginning of what the Trump administration said was an all-out effort to oust Venezuela’s autocratic leader, Nicolás Maduro, in which “all options,” even military ones, were on the table. But a year later, the administration’s policy has been frustrated. Mr. Guaidó is so removed from power that, this weekend, he was barred from even entering the legislature, where he was seeking re-election as the body’s leader.

Source: New York Times January 07, 2020 00:11 UTC