Venezuela

Once a thriving democracy, Venezuela today is in one of its darkest times in history. Years of economic mismanagement, cronyism, and democratic erosion, further fueled by hyperinflation, power cuts, and shortages of food and medicine, have triggered a humanitarian and migration crisis with reverberations across Latin America and beyond. A peaceful democratic transition will remain as the top priority—and the first step—toward a more prosperous future for Venezuelans and the hemisphere.

Recent analysis

McFate in the Washington Post: Venezuela shows how mercenaries have become a global security threat

Memo to… Feb 3, 2026

Memo to the president: Steps to secure a prosperous, US-aligned Venezuela

By Jason Marczak, Ambassador James Story, General (ret.) Laura J. Richardson, and Geoff Ramsey

One month after Nicolás Maduro’s removal from power, Washington has significant leverage it can use in the short term to boost the odds of a stable, democratic Venezuela emerging in the long term. To that end, our experts lay out the tough asks the US government should make of interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
Corruption Democratic Transitions
McFate in the Washington Post: Venezuela shows how mercenaries have become a global security threat

Dispatches Jan 5, 2026

Now comes the hard part: What Trump should do next to secure Venezuela’s democratic future

By Jason Marczak

The United States is now forced to depend on the remnants of the Maduro regime for the next stage in the mission.
Democratic Transitions Latin America
McFate in the Washington Post: Venezuela shows how mercenaries have become a global security threat

Fast Thinking Jan 3, 2026

What to watch in a post-Maduro Venezuela

By Atlantic Council

President Donald Trump said the United States will now “run” Venezuela—but what will that mean in practice?
Democratic Transitions Latin America

Programs

The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.

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The Venezuela Working Group

The Venezuela Working Group (VWG) is a high-level group that informs policymakers in the United States, Europe, and Latin America on how to advance a long-term vision and action-oriented policies to foster democratic stability in Venezuela. The Venezuela Working Group seeks to promote the restoration of democratic institutions in Venezuela.

VWG members draw from their diverse backgrounds, global networks, and deep expertise to tackle the most challenging issues around Venezuela policy, both at the domestic and international levels. Priority issues for the VWG’s 2021 work include: supporting Venezuela’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts; assessing risks and opportunities around upcoming regional elections; and exploring non-traditional mechanisms for effectively mitigating Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

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Venezuela policy BITES

Content

In the News

May 14, 2020

McFate in the Washington Post: Venezuela shows how mercenaries have become a global security threat

By Atlantic Council

Africa Conflict
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

May 12, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: May 12, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

The hashtag #OperacionGedeon, in reference to the name of the failed attempt to oust Nicolás Maduro from power, trended on Twitter in Venezuela from May 3, 2020, when the first armed clashes and detentions were reported by the Maduro regime, until May 6.

Disinformation Venezuela
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

May 5, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: May 5, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Following a call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro on April 20, the Spanish-language version of Kremlin-funded website Avia.pro, Avia-es.com, claimed Russia would support the Bolivarian Republic by sending troops to confront U.S. forces stationed in the Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Venezuela.

Disinformation Venezuela

In the News

Apr 28, 2020

Nia in Just Security: How to Hold Venezuela’s Maduro Accountable for Human Rights Abuses

By Atlantic Council

Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 28, 2020

Guaidó’s National Emergency Government can prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Venezuela

By Cristina Guevara

Guaidó’s national emergency government presents a viable solution to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis, and the dictatorship that has decimated the country.

Coronavirus Corruption
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

Apr 28, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: April 28, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

False diets, cures, and homemade recipes to treat or prevent COVID-19 have appeared on Venezuela’s news outlets, social media, and Maduro regime announcements since February 28, 2020.

Disinformation Venezuela

New Atlanticist

Apr 23, 2020

Coronavirus will worsen Venezuela’s emergency, interim president says

By David A. Wemer

“This right now is an unprecedented emergency,” Guaidó said during an April 23 event with the Atlantic Council moderated by journalist and CBS news contributor María Elena Salinas. “Venezuela cannot survive both a pandemic and a famine,” he explained.

Coronavirus Democratic Transitions
AlertaVenezuela email banner

#AlertaVenezuela

Apr 21, 2020

#AlertaVenezuela: April 21, 2020

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

As thousands of Venezuelans who lost their livelihoods to the COVID outbreak return to their home country, pro-Maduro outlets claimed the Colombian government had stolen funds meant to support these Venezuelan migrants.

Disinformation Venezuela

EnergySource

Apr 20, 2020

Containing Russian influence in Venezuela

By David L. Goldwyn and Andrea Clabough

The Russian government has been instrumental in preserving the Maduro regime, despite years of intense domestic and international pressure favoring a democratic transition, providing the regime invaluable diplomatic leverage, security personnel, and material, as well as an economic lifeline. The US strategy for a democratic Venezuela must recognize these realities and focus on containing Russian influence in Venezuela, as it cannot end it.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Apr 16, 2020

D’Sola featured on SupChina’s podcast Sinica: China’s Venezuelan vicissitudes

By Atlantic Council

On April 16, 2020, Parsifal D’Sola was featured on an episode of SupChina’s podcast Sinica, “China’s Venezuelan vicissitudes.” D’Sola, along with Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn, discussed “China’s strategy in the resource-rich but economically devastated Venezuela.”

China Venezuela
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Experts

Fellow

Iria Puyosa

Senior Research Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Americas Civil Society

Fellow

Geoff Ramsey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Civil Society Colombia

Fellow

Erika Rodríguez

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

European Union International Organizations
Daniel Suarez Perez

Staff

Daniel Suárez Pérez

Research Associate, Latin America

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Colombia Conflict

Fellow

Samantha Sultoon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba East Asia

Fellow

Sebastian Zuleta

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Colombia Venezuela