It seems like countries that have been ostracized by the West are increasingly seeking American and Western hostages as bargaining chips.

Frightening stuff. I would not visit Venezuela right now for a host of reasons.

At the same time, what has the ostracism actually gotten us? Note even in this story, the Times reporter says some oppose engagement with Maduro because he's a dictator. Any self-awareness in that? The U.S. uses moralism against its enemies only. Friends can be as dictatorial as they want. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/americas/americans-hostages-venezuela-prison.html

Strategic communications advisor.

Recovering politics reporter, HuffPost.

There's also an irony in complaining about Venezuelan migrants to the U.S. while we impose sanctions on the country.

I have no doubt many people would still want to leave if we lifted the sanctions, but it can't help, and it's just not consistent.

I support the U.S. deluding itself less about its own virtues in foreign affairs, even if I am less into the short-sighted might-makes-right attitude of Trump toward allies like Canada, Mexico, and the EU. At the same time, I think even the often hypocritical subscription to at least some set of values has at times exercised a needed check on our worst abuses (think accountability for torture etc).

Regardless, in the Venezuela context, a pure power calculus would dictate for us to normalize relations, because it is in our interests.

This is dominance thru power not virtue. It makes sense if i look at it thru the lens of power. Virtue-dominance is no longer a thing for American foreign policy