Maduro offers his crime-fighting experience to Trump

In a recent television broadcast, Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, extended an offer to Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, to share his government’s experience in combating crime. This offer was made at a time when Trump is preparing to take office, amid uncertainties regarding U.S.-Venezuela relations, especially following the contested presidential elections in Venezuela held on July 28, where Maduro's administration claimed victory despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Maduro expressed hope for cooperation with the incoming administration to address crime, which is a significant concern for Trump. He mentioned that his government had successfully reduced the influence of criminal gangs within Venezuela, attributing the decrease in crime rates to their security strategies. However, it is important to note that organizations like InSight Crime suggest that the decline in crime may also result from the mass emigration of Venezuelans, with over five million leaving the country in the last five years, which has diminished the number of potential victims for criminal groups. In his address, Maduro also referenced a recent opposition demonstration in Caracas, which reportedly failed to garner significant support. The opposition candidate alleged to have defeated him in the July elections, Edmundo González Urrutia, currently resides in exile in Spain but claimed he would return to Venezuela on January 10, 2025, for what he describes as his inauguration. Maduro, in his response, questioned González's ability to return, linking it to the opposition's overall diminished influence in the country.