Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Welcome! Log in to stay connected and make the most of your experience.

Input clean

Food Shortages in Venezuela: Drawing the Line?

Food Shortages in Venezuela: Drawing the Line?

Shortages of basic food products in Venezuela are estimated at 80 percent, which means that 80 percent of these products are not available at a given store at a given time. Lines to buy whatever products might arrive at mostly empty supermarkets start before dawn. Food shortages have brought the Maduro government’s popularity to an all-time low and are testing its mechanisms of control. Tellingly, lines to comply with the government’s requirement that individuals validate their signature for a recall referendum organized by the opposition were also very long.

Food shortages in Venezuela are a consequence of economic policies enacted by former President Hugo Chávez and continued by his successor, Nicolás Maduro. Specifically, food shortages are the result of exchange control policies, price controls, and expropriation and nationalization. These shortages might be the downfall of the Maduro regime.

Keep reading...Show less
Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member.

Related Articles

Report for Wednesday, June 18, 2025

9:04 America/New York Wednesday, June 18 [...] More

Why Iran’s Nuclear Program Cannot Be Dismantled from the Air

OPINION — As Israel launches one of the most expansive covert-kinetic operations in recent memory against Iranian nuclear infrastructure, a critical [...] More

Israel’s Bid to End the Iranian Nuclear Threat

OPINION — In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched a series of airstrikes, codenamed Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian nuclear [...] More

Report for Tuesday, June 17, 2025

9:15 AM America/New York Tuesday, June 17 [...] More

Women Who Weaponized Words in World War II

BOOK REVIEW: Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women of the OSSBy Lisa Rogak / St. Martin’s PressReviewed by: Tammy Kupperman ThorpThe Reviewer [...] More

What’s Happening in L.A. May Not Stay in L.A.

OPINION / COLUMN -- “At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court [for the Northern District of California] must determine whether the President [...] More

South Korea’s New President

OPINION — On June 3rd South Korea turned the page and is embarked on a journey of peace and prosperity. Lee Jae-Myung handily won the presidential [...] More

Report for Monday, June 16, 2025

7:38 AM America/New_York Monday, June 16 [...] More

The Houthi Balancing Act After Israel’s Attack on Iran

OPINION — How will the Houthis respond to the devastating Israeli strikes on Iran? This moment could prove decisive for both the Iran-led axis and [...] More