Continued So what exactly did Venezuela gain by negotiating from a position of weakness? For decades, Washington has sought to dismantle Venezuela's socialist political project and replace it with a government more aligned with US economic and geopolitical interests. There is little reason to assume that those goals disappeared simply because Washington found Rodriguez useful as a negotiating partner. The return of Machados, reportedly discussed in advance with the Venezuelan authorities, only heightens the questions about the governments left in power. Rodriguez's economic concessions may not guarantee her political survival, but they may allow the US to secure its interests while demanding more concessions. The question is: Did Rodriguez negotiate a way to protect Venezuela's sovereignty or did she really help Washington secure its interests while weakening the circus? What is clear is that the future of Venezuela should be decided by the Venezuelan people, not by a foreign power trying to control its domestic, electoral and foreign policy.