Troika of tyranny

{{Quote box We will champion the independence and liberty of our neighbors. And this President, and his entire administration, will stand with the freedom fighters. The Troika of Tyranny in this Hemisphere—Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua—has finally met its match. The phrase troika of tyranny was first used by U.S. National Security Advisor Bolton during a speech on behalf of President Donald Trump at Miami Dade College on 1 November 2018 to describe the nations of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. As millions fled the economic collapse and political persecution during the crisis in Venezuela and hundreds were killed by the Daniel Ortega administration during the 2018–2020 Nicaraguan protests—with both governments directly supported by Cuba—the United States government condemned the actions performed by the three countries. He also condemned socialism saying "the problems we see in Latin America today have not emerged because socialism has been implemented poorly. On the contrary, the Cuban, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan people suffer in misery because socialism has been implemented effectively" and that the troika was "the cause of immense human suffering, the impetus of enormous regional instability, and the genesis of a sordid cradle of communism in the western hemisphere". According to The Wall Street Journal, Venezuela is not the only policy concern for the United States, but also Cuba, whose "intelligence is deeply integrated in the Venezuelan military and the security apparatus of the Maduro government", and the strengthening ties between both countries, as well as Russia, China and Iran. South American is a source of Iran's financial backing of Hezbollah, and Venezuelan Minister of Labor Tareck El Aissami allegedly helped provide them the means to launder money through Venezuela. ==Sanctions==

(left) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (right) announce Venezuela sanctions in January 2019. The United States has condemned actions of the governments of the three Latin American nations and has maintained both broad and targeted sanctions against their leadership. The April 2019 sanctions against Nicaragua affect the financial company Banco Corporativo SA (Bancorp) Venezuela Bolton said in November 2018 that the Trump administration policy would be to place sanctions on Venezuela until it releases political prisoners, permits the entrance of humanitarian aid, holds free elections and upholds democracy and the rule of law. The Atlantic described the measures as a "slow suffocation" of the nations and their assets. The April 2019 sanctions directly against Venezuela were overtly financial, being against the Central Bank of Venezuela with the aim to restrict the Maduro government's access to US dollars and financing, which Bolton says are "crucial to keeping Maduro in power". ==Reception==

with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, November 2, 2018 Due to the proximity of the 1 November speech to the 2018 United States elections and its location in Florida, Columbia University professor and Latin American expert Christopher Sabatini referenced Bolton's audience of Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan-Americans, stating that it was "no coincidence that this speech is being made where there are tight races for governor and for Congress. It is just another example of how our policy in the hemisphere is driven by local politics, and it's sad". Vox's Alex Ward criticized the Trump administration's condemnation of the "troika" while aligning itself with the far-right Bolsonaro in Brazil and found it ironic that Bolton applauded the freedoms provided to Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan–Americans in the audience while the Trump government banned those fleeing from oppression entry into the United States. Ward said the targeting of civilians by Ortega's government in Nicaragua was "unlikely to change anytime soon, as more than 300 people died during protests against the government this year". The Guardian described the November 2018 speech used by Bolton as "bellicose" and that such statements were "likely to stoke growing fears in Latin America that Washington could recruit rightwing governments in Brazil and Colombia to take military action against Venezuela". The Atlantic stated that the April 2019 speech was "not exactly subtle". Reuters reported that the April 2019 announcement "drew swift criticism from European and Canadian allies, whose companies have significant interests in Cuba". Sherritt International (Canadian) and Meliá Hotels International (Spain) have invested heavily in Cuba; the European Union stated it will use all options to "protect its legitimate interests", and Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada was "deeply disappointed" with the announcement. Trump's position on the triad has "gone down well among Cuban Americans in south Florida". Cuba labeled the sanctions "an attack on international law"; president Miguel Díaz-Canel said, "No one will rip the (fatherland) away from us, neither by seduction nor by force. We Cubans do not surrender." Maduro said the sanctions were "totally illegal" and that "Central banks around the world are sacred, all countries respect them. ... To me the empire looks crazy, desperate." ==See also==