This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The recent capture of native Utahn, Joshua Holt, has put a bigger spotlight on Venezuela and the Venezuelan crisis. Holt, along with his Venezuelan wife, Theresa Caleno, have been locked in a Caracas jail cell for three months now on suspicion of weapons and accomplice charges, respectively. While this is a most tragic event, it can help us understand why improved relations between the United States and Venezuela and removal of sanctions are critical.
First, it seems as if economic sanctions against Venezuela are pointless because the Venezuelan economy is doomed to collapse any day now. What good does it do to prolong these sanctions when there will soon be no economy to hold sanctions against? Second, these strong-arm U.S. policies are counter-productive in maintaining our good relations with the rest of Latin America. Political change for Venezuela is coming, it's only a matter of time, so what the White House should focus on is opening up dialogue with Venezuela rather than punishing them so we can keep our relations stable throughout the region.
Restoration of relations with Venezuela would open up trade and not only benefit the U.S. economy but Venezuela's crumbling one as well. Having Venezuela as a closer economic and political ally will benefit both countries' security interests, and improving relations will help free Holt and his wife and help prevent similar events in the future.
Gabrielle Hutchinson
Salt Lake City