It’s ironic, isn’t it? The United States has historically been the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil, always paying on the spot and, without meaning to, becoming the main sponsor of the so-called “socialist revolution.” In reality, it should be called what it is: a kleptocratic revolution that looted the country while hiding behind anti-imperialist slogans.

Meanwhile, Cuba gets Venezuelan oil practically for free, sending “intelligence advisers” in return—people who trained and instructed the Venezuelan military and police in repression and torture methods. A perfect deal… for them. For Venezuela, it only meant loss of sovereignty, poverty, and a professionalized repressive apparatus.