The JW Marriott in Caracas, Venezuela, has become a hub of activity since the US government's controversial military intervention in January. This five-star hotel, dubbed 'the spooks hotel' by journalists, is now the nerve center of Washington's efforts to steer the country, with US officials, diplomats, and spies dominating the conversations over breakfast. The hotel's restaurant and corridors echo with discussions about Venezuela's future, from election roadmaps to economic growth, all while US marines and government guests fill the lobby. The hotel's proximity to the stock exchange and the presence of propaganda posters of Maduro further emphasize the US's influence. The JW Marriott is effectively the US embassy, with the actual embassy building closed and in disrepair. The hotel's guests, including Trump's top diplomat to Venezuela, John Barrett, are seen roaming the premises, discussing the dire state of Venezuela's electrical grid and the likelihood of fresh elections. The hotel's playlist, featuring Tom Jobim's Triste, serves as a poetic reminder of the challenges ahead for the US's involvement in Venezuela. Meanwhile, at another luxury hotel a few miles away, Cayena, foreign tycoons are making big-money deals, betting on Venezuela's economic future despite the lack of a democratic transition. The Trumpian takeover has caused discomfort among some Venezuelans, even among those who were glad to see Maduro go. The streets are abuzz with anger, as evidenced by a Workers' Day rally denouncing the government's 'neocolonial collaboration' with the US. Despite the uncertainty, Caracas-bound capitalists remain optimistic about Venezuela's post-Maduro prospects, with one oil man predicting a bright future for the country. The JW Marriott, with its bustling activity and US influence, stands as a symbol of the complex and controversial US-Venezuela relationship.
