Additionally, Venezuela’s economy went hyper-inflationary at that time too. With three to five digit inflation rates per year. Yes, they had multiple years with five digit inflation rates. Maduro thought this was a great time to print a whole bunch of money!

Then later, in 2023, when the western world is severing their reliance on Russian oil and Venezeula is an obvious choice as a new supplier, Maduro declares he’s invading Guyana (their neighboring state with shitloads of oil). Just fucking torpedoes all attempts at improving things for his country.