POPULATION:
27,730,469
LITERACY RATE:
87%
SELF DEFENSE FORCES:
Venezuelan National Military
LANGUAGES:
 Spanish (official),  Nahua (among some Amerindians), English
ETHNIC GROUPS:
Mestizo 49%, White 41%, Afro-Venezuelans (7%), Asians (2%),
BORDERING COUNTRIES:
Colombia, Brazil, Guyana
Venezuela - During the middle half of the last century, this oil rich country on the northern edge of South America did quite well for itself.  In the 80's, the collapse of oil prices and severe internal overspending crippled the Venezeulan economy, and gave rise to several failed coup attempts.    The oppressive regime desperately trying to keep control of an explosive situation began hiring mercenaries en masse (the mercenaries were later revealed to have been heavily saturated with CIA plants) to eliminate the rebel opposition.  Rumors of death squads targeting the parents, wives and children of anyone suspected to be a rebel run rampant, and the number of "subversives" taken away never to be heard from again reached epic numbers.  Crippled by a near bankrupt economy and its own internal strife, Venezuela was all but ignored when the first Central American conflict came to the region.  Of course, behind the scenes, the CIA was very aware of the the happenings in the region, and when Hugo Chavez attempted his coup in 1992, it was the CIA that led the loyalist military forces to his capture and arrest.  3 months later he was assassinated in prison, and many of those in power still loyal to him had tragic "accidents.
Through CIA bribes, strong-arm tactics, and assasinations,  new president was put in place, one whose loyalty to the US was unquestioned (rumers abound that he was in fact a CIA agent, trained in America and given a false backstory, but no definitive proof of this has yet surfaced.)

In 1997, the middle-east meltdown left the entire world facing an oil shortage.  Venezuela's Bolivar Coastal Field was instantly the prime supplier for the worlds oil, and the US puppet state was in full control of it.  Profit flowed into Venezuela, and while the standard of living increased some, the majority of wealth went to the elite US loyalists in power.  Much of the money was used to bolster the Military, and soon Venezuela had the most advanced independent military in South America.  The good times weren't to last long however.

In 2000, public opposition to the US supported government, and the horrific human rights violations practiced by the mercenaries still operating covertly in the country to weed out subversion came to a head.  With presidential election looming on the horizon, and the candidates from both parties fully supportive of continued US alliance, a new rebel movement was formed.  In the beginning of the Second South American War, cartel forces from Colombia began meeting with rebel leaders in Venezuela, not long after the Venezuelan rebels made their move. 

On Oct 12, 2003, televisiona and radio stations across Venezuela were siezed by rebels, who immediately began broadcasting the call to revolution, propping up the image of Hugo Chavez as martyr to the cause.   In smaller towns, officials loyal to the government were dragged out onto the streets and beaten to death.  In Caracas, the president and his staff were evacuated from the country as opposition forces ransacked the capitol.  Fully a quarter of the military joined the rebels, taking as much equipment as possible with them.  In the span of two weeks, Venezuela found itself in all out civil war.  The US responded immediately, pulling troops from Colombia and focusing Naval support on the region.  Unfortunately for the rebels, the CIA already numerous moles inside the rebel forces.  After a series of strategic bombings, and special forces missions, the leadership of the rebel forces were soon removed with devestating effect.  With its leadership gone, the rebellion crumpled.  Those who had taken up arms against the government were captured, and put on trial.  The leaders of the opposition were summarily executed for treason, and the military personel imprisoned in one of Venezuelas off-shore -sub aquatic prisons.  The civilians who took up the cause however, in a move designed by CIA spin doctors, were given full amnesty with a press conference being held claiming that they had been "unwitting pawns to the rebel propaganda machine".  Then the bottom fell out.

When the US pulled out of South America completely, the Venzuelan government was left on its own.  In a relatively bloodless coup, the President and his cabinet were ousted and imprisoned. A new president, Hector Corriega, was hastily elected and Venezuela declared itself forevermore "Free from outside influence, a nation of true independence".  The Soviets and the Euros immediately began trying to win favor, but were summarily rejected.  The oil operations would continue to flow, but oil would be sold at a flat rate to anyone with the money to buy.  Trade agreements were reached, and soon the new fully independent Venezuelan Nation Military had its surplus of American military equipment reinforced with surplus from Russian, China, and Europe.  While the surplus equipment was welcome, the new Venezuelan government was adamant that no foreign military force was to set foot on Venezuelan soil, and spies would be dealt with harshly.  This was illustrated in 2015 when an EDF agent trying to gain influence with oil executives in Venezuela was captured and publicly executed.  In an even bolder move, with the US and Europe too busy at home to intervene, he sent his troops into Guyana, once and for all retaking the lands west of the Essequibo river and settling the decades long border dispute.

The oil industry in Venezuela has been nationalized under the corporation of Petro-Venz.  Under the new government, all the citizens of Venezuela profit directly from the oil sales.  Non-citizens of Venezuela are unable to purchase or own land in the country, and enforcement of this law is strict, this forces foreign corporations on a very tight leash, as they must rent the land upon which they operate, and must adhere to strict guidelines similiar to that of Mexico in order to remain in operation here.  While Oil is the prime export of Venezuela, its agricultural exports are abundant.  The Mega-diverse geography of the country allows for a wide variety of agricultural cultivation.  Coffee, Chocolate, fruits and grains are all exported as some of the finest brands in the world.

The people of Venezuela, embittered by a yo-yo of abject poverty, to wealth, to war, to peace, all seemingly at the hands of foreign interests controlling their country, have become extremely distrustful of foreigners.  While the tourism industry flourishes, especially among the historical sites and along the coast, foreigners are advised not to express any interest in politics, and to avoid loitering near government buildings or military installations.  Venzuela is being heavily approached the SAA (South American Alliance) to join the all but inevitable fight against foreign invasion by the US of South America.  So far they have not joined, but intelligence reports have indicated cartel backed SAA troop movements with Venezuelas borders.

(Written by Deric "D" Bernier.)