Survey cites U.S. threats, oil interests as drivers of national cohesion.
A recent poll by Dataviva reveals that a significant majority of Venezuelans are unified in their commitment to defend the nation’s sovereignty amid rising tensions with the United States. Conducted between September 1 and 15, the survey indicates a notable boost in approval for President Nicolas Maduro’s administration, attributed to its response to recent U.S. actions, reports 24brussels.
According to the survey, 89% of respondents believe that Venezuela is a sovereign nation impervious to external threats, while only 11% disagree. The poll suggests that the defense of sovereignty has become a unifying issue across traditional political divides, rallying the majority of the population.
In terms of public sentiment toward U.S. actions, 88.9% of respondents interpret these as attempts by U.S. President Donald Trump to remove Maduro from office. Only 11.1% believe that the recent U.S. military presence in the Caribbean is focused on combating drug trafficking.
The survey underscores a strong willingness to protect national sovereignty, with 77% indicating they would defend Venezuela from a potential foreign attack, while 23% either disagreed or did not respond.
Breaking from Washington’s characterization, 91% of Venezuelans assert that control over oil resources is the primary motivation behind U.S. threats. This perspective is supported by findings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which highlight Venezuela’s exclusion from illicit crop cultivation and only minimal mention of its role in drug trafficking to the U.S. and Europe, thus undermining Washington’s justifications.
Most respondents regard the anti-drug rhetoric as a superficial pretext for pursuing territorial and energy control.
In terms of political dynamics, the survey indicates a rise in support for President Maduro, increasing from 64% in August to 70% in September. Simultaneously, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado experiences a stark 92% disapproval rate, with 97% of Venezuelans expressing discontent toward President Trump.
These findings suggest that external pressures may be strengthening national unity and bolstering the Maduro administration, while damaging the reputations of both domestic dissenters and international adversaries.
