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Venezuelans focus on survival as US military tensions escalate
While geopolitical tensions between Venezuela and the United States intensify, ordinary citizens in Caracas are more preoccupied with soaring food prices and economic instability than the threat of military intervention, reports from the capital reveal.
Market struggles amid economic crisis
At Quinta Crespo, a bustling market in downtown Caracas, vendors like Alejandro Orellano, a five-year veteran of the vegetable trade, face near-empty aisles. "There's not going to be an intervention-what's really troubling us is the rise of the dollar," he told BBC Mundo while sipping coffee, his stall devoid of customers. The festive notes of a Christmas carol played in the background, a stark contrast to the grim economic reality.
The bolívar's collapse-projecting an 80% loss in value this year, per IMF data-has rendered basic staples unaffordable. A kilogram of chicken now costs roughly four times the official monthly minimum wage, leaving even government bonuses for retirees and public workers insufficient to cover essentials.
US military buildup raises alarms
Washington's recent deployment of thousands of troops and assets, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean has heightened regional tensions. On Saturday, four international airlines suspended Venezuela-bound flights after US aviation authorities warned of "heightened military activity." The moves follow airstrikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels, which the US frames as counter-narcotics operations but Maduro calls a pretext for regime change.
Despite the saber-rattling, many Venezuelans remain skeptical of an imminent conflict. Consuelo, a 74-year-old retired professor, dismissed the prospect: "Let whatever happens happen! Worrying just makes you sick." She added that panic-buying is a luxury few can afford: "You need a lot of money for that."
Hyperinflation overshadows geopolitics
Economists consulted by the BBC-some requesting anonymity for fear of reprisals-paint a dire picture. Monthly inflation hovers near 20%, with the IMF forecasting a 548% price surge this year and a staggering 629% in 2026, the continent's highest. "Inflation is eating us alive," said Javier Jaramillo, 57, a reseller scanning the market for holiday goods. Even during power outages, his thoughts turn to survival: "'They've come in,' 'They're going to come in'-but really, we're more worried about food."
Fear silences dissent
A merchant from Ciudad Bolívar, speaking anonymously, described a climate of fear: "We're scared, silent, afraid they'll throw us in jail. I used to post things, but not anymore." The crackdown following disputed 2024 elections-where opposition leader Edmundo González's victory was rejected by Maduro's government-has left 884 political prisoners, per Foro Penal. "There's hope, but people stay quiet," the merchant admitted.
Mixed reactions to US posture
Barbara Marrero, a 40-year-old pastry chef, voiced cautious optimism: "We're all waiting for something to happen-it's fair and necessary. We've lived in misery for years." Others, like Esther Guevara, 53, a medical lab worker, expressed unease: "I'm worried. They might invade, strike... innocent people could die."
Trump's dual messaging-open to dialogue but not ruling out military action-adds to the uncertainty. Yet for most, the immediate crisis is economic. "Venezuela is in bad shape," Jaramillo reiterated, as the midday sun cast long shadows over the market's half-empty stalls.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Catalan Water Agency (contextual example, not in source)
