“Now, ‘the trend lines point toward increasing authoritarian consolidation, a stronger Nicolas Maduro and a more fragmented opposition,’ said Michael Camilleri, who served in the State Department and the National Security Council during the Obama administration. ‘Those in the opposition who had deluded themselves into thinking Trump was going to invade and solve all their problems are coming to the realization that’s not going to happen.’
“In a sense, the status quo works for Trump politically…”