Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s evacuation of U.S. diplomats from Venezuela can be explained by three factors. Two are related to protecting U.S. diplomats, and one is related to the Trump administration’s impending escalation against Nicolas Maduro. Let’s take each in turn.

First, there are Venezuela’s ongoing power shortages and the corresponding inability of U.S. diplomats to either live or work effectively. Years of underinvestment in the national power grid means these shortages may continue perpetually.