Venezuela

Venezuela

Following the US removal of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela stands at a pivotal moment after years of economic mismanagement, cronyism, and democratic erosion. Leaders must seize this moment to usher in a Venezuela where people overcome economic paralysis, live without fear of the state, and freely choose who represents them in the government.

Recent analysis

#AlertaVenezuela: November 26, 2019

Dispatches Apr 12, 2026

Washington needs a ‘Plan Venezuela’ before it’s too late

By James Story and David Bellon

Using Plan Colombia as a model, the United States should commit to a long-term, well-funded effort to bring security to Venezuela.
Colombia Economy & Business
#AlertaVenezuela: November 26, 2019

Dispatches Feb 26, 2026

Lessons from Sudan for US economic engagement with Venezuela

By Lesley Chavkin

Sudan offers important lessons for the United States as it looks to stabilize Venezuela and rebuild its economy following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
#AlertaVenezuela: November 26, 2019

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

Our Venezuela Forward series sheds light on the country’s future through programming and analysis that advance ideas to promote economic stabilization and a democratic transition.

Events

Public Event Tue, April 28, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

Reporters at risk: What the future holds for the press in Venezuela after Maduro
Americas Latin America Resilience Resilience & Society
Public Event Fri, March 20, 2026 • 2:00 pm ET

The fight for influence in Venezuela against Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba
Americas Latin America Politics & Diplomacy Venezuela
Public Event Wed, February 18, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Venezuela’s public opinion in the post-Maduro era
Americas Civil Society 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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Content

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#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 26, 2019

#AlertaVenezuela: November 26, 2019

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Colombia has become the latest Latin American country to engage in anti-government protests, as citizens took to the streets across the region calling for change: from marches decrying austerity policies in Ecuador and Chile to protests in Bolivia initially based on claims of fraud in the October 20 election and more recently over the perception that President Evo Morales’s resignation was forced (i.e., a “coup”).

Disinformation Venezuela
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#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 19, 2019

#AlertaVenezuela: November 19, 2019

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Inspired by recent events in Bolivia, supporters of both Juan Guaidó and Nicolás Maduro took to the streets in parallel, competing marches on Saturday, November 16. Guaidó called for the November 16 march as the first of a permanent series of protests to reach a definitive solution for the crisis. He said the aim was to “achieve what happened in Bolivia and that the Armed Forces and the police side with all Venezuelans.” In response, Maduro called on his supporters to head to the streets. Following Evo Morales removal in Bolivia, Maduro’s supporters added an additional cause into their protest and also marched in solidarity with the ousted Bolivian leader, who they claimed was the victim of a coup.

Disinformation Venezuela

Past events

Nov 14, 2019

What’s Next on Sanctions? An Update on Legislative & Executive Branch Activity

On November 7th, 2019 the Atlantic Council’s Global Business & Economics Program co-hosted a high-level roundtable conversation with Morrison & Foerster to discuss recent and future sanctions activity by the US legislative and executive branches.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 12, 2019

#AlertaVenezuela: November 12, 2019

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

The Maduro regime reacted to the resignation of one of its long-time allies, Bolivia’s Evo Morales, by showing support and denouncing what it referred to as “a coup.” After more than two weeks of protests in the country following claims of fraud in the October 20 election, Morales resigned on November 10. Because the resignation occurred after the heads of the Bolivian armed forces and national police called on Morales to step down, Morales himself as well as Nicolás Maduro and other left-wing world leaders described the event as “a coup.”

Disinformation Venezuela
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#AlertaVenezuela

Nov 5, 2019

#AlertaVenezuela: November 5, 2019

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

Nicolás Maduro has been accused of being an instigator behind social unrest in Latin American countries, including in Chile and Ecuador. Twitter accounts operating from Venezuela have a history of attempting to influence domestic events in Catalonia and in the United States. The DFRLab analyzed 1.1 million tweets about protests in Chile, posted between October 16 and October 25, 2019, to measure the possibility of involvement of the Maduro regime’s digital militias in the country.

Disinformation Venezuela
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#AlertaVenezuela

Oct 29, 2019

#AlertaVenezuela: October 29, 2019

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

On October 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued an order giving Juan Guaidó’s team three months to "restructure or refinance payments" by suspending the terms of some financial sanctions, which – if implemented – would have foreclosed on Venezuelan-owned Citgo’s oil refineries in Texas and which were originally meant to pressure Nicolás Maduro from office. The move was intended to shield Guaidó, who is recognized as interim President of Venezuela by more than 50 countries as of June 2019, from losing control of Citgo.

Disinformation Venezuela
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#AlertaVenezuela

Oct 22, 2019

#AlertaVenezuela: October 22, 2019

By Atlantic Council's DFRLab

In September, Twitter suspended one of the most active accounts involved in the Maduro regime's ongoing operation to position pro-regime hashtags among the trending topics on the platform. The account @tuiteros_vzla, also known as Tuiteros Patriotas, primarily amplified the daily hashtags posted by the Venezuelan Ministry of Communications and offered monetary compensation to users who tweeted out the hashtags.

Disinformation Venezuela

In the News

Oct 22, 2019

Cohen in Forbes: Russia Attempts To Take Over Venezuelan Oil, Creating A Challenge For The U.S.

By Atlantic Council

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Sep 26, 2019

Colombian president aims for “second phase” of US-Colombian ties

By David A. Wemer

Twenty years after the United States enacted Plan Colombia, Ivan Duque said the United States and Colombia are ready for the next chapter of their partnership, focusing on solidifying the rule of law , promoting entrepreneurship and trade, and managing growing regional challenges.

Colombia Migration

New Atlanticist

Sep 24, 2019

Trump defends his foreign policy to the world at UNGA

By David A. Wemer

Trump justified his vision for the United States' role in the world to the UNGA crowd. Here what Atlantic Council experts think it means.

China Iran
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Experts

Fellow

Brian O’Toole

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba Economy & Business

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

Staff

Henry Shuldiner

Associate Director

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Colombia English
Daniel Suarez Perez

Staff

Daniel Suárez Pérez

Research Associate, Latin America

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Colombia Conflict
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