The strongest quakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century could not have come at a worse time for the country.
The Latin American nation’s once-booming economy had already been crippled by years of US-led sanctions, hyperinflation, government corruption and mismanagement of the oil sector, despite sitting on the world’s largest oil reserves. Its GDP has shrunk by roughly 80% since 2013.
Then came the US capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January.
In his place, acting President Delcy Rodríguez has been cautiously liberalizing the economy and courting foreign oil companies, while currying favor with Washington pragmatically and seeking relief from crushing sanctions.
Wilmer Azuaje via Reuters
