Recent analysis

The growing Russian challenge and what should be done about it

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

The growing Russian challenge and what should be done about it

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

The growing Russian challenge and what should be done about it

Dispatches
Jan 3, 2026

Experts react: The US just captured Maduro. What’s next for Venezuela and the region?

By
Atlantic Council experts

What does the future hold for Venezuela following the US raid that removed Nicolás Maduro from power? Atlantic Council experts share their insights.

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.

Learn more

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.

more on vwg
Venezuela policy BITES

Content

New Atlanticist

May 3, 2019

The growing Russian challenge and what should be done about it

By Ashish Kumar Sen

All around the world, Russia is increasingly asserting itself, propping up dictators, and, in some instances, posing a direct challenge to US interests.

Libya
Syria

New Atlanticist

Apr 30, 2019

Juan Guaidó’s Operation Freedom gives Venezuela a shot at democracy

By Jason Marczak

These developments mark the best chance yet for Venezuelans to begin the next wave of reclaiming democracy and ending years of suffering.

Venezuela

Event Recap

Apr 26, 2019

Venezuela after Maduro: A vision for the country’s future

By Angela Chavez

On Thursday, April 25, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center hosted the US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliot Abrams to discuss what an inclusive democratic transition in Venezuela looks like. The event convened key figures representing both the Venezuelan opposition and the dissident Chavismo, who are committed to bringing about a return to […]

English
Latin America

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2019

US envoy sees a role for Chavismo in a democratic Venezuela

By David A. Wemer

"The time to join a free debate about the future is now, and it must include young Chavistas before this regime tries to silence them as well," Elliot Abrams said.

Democratic Transitions
Venezuela
aalac

Program Impact Story

Apr 25, 2019

Venezuela after Maduro: A Vision for the country’s future

By Atlantic Council

On April 25, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center hosted a discussion that laid out a vision for what the future of Venezuela could look like after democracy is restored. US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams provided a policy address calling for inclusion to accelerate Venezuela’s democratization process, noting that dissident Chavismo […]

Democratic Transitions
Latin America

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2019

Spotlight: Next steps with Venezuela

By Samantha Sultoon

The Trump administration is nearing the limits of what it can achieve in Venezuela through sanctions alone and a reconsideration of the current strategy is warranted.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
Venezuela

Inflection Points

Apr 7, 2019

Russia’s Venezuela challenge

By Frederick Kempe

What concerns US officials is that Vladimir Putin may be laying the ground for making Venezuela the defining foreign policy debacle for President Trump.

NATO
Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2019

Russia ups the ante in Venezuela

By Ashish Kumar Sen

“Maduro’s survival gives Russia a foothold in the Americas,” explained Jason Marczak.

Russia
Venezuela

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2019

Venezuela’s interim government unveils reconstruction plan

By David A. Wemer

The situation in Venezuela is unlike anything “we have ever seen [before] in Latin America,” said Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Luis Alberto Moreno.

Democratic Transitions
Venezuela

Event Recap

Mar 14, 2019

Plan País: Building the new Venezuela – A roadmap for reconstruction

By Angela Chavez

On Thursday, March 14, 2019, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center convened distinguished experts and international leaders to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, as well as next steps in rebuilding the country’s economy, infrastructure, and institutions. The event served as the official unveiling of Plan País—the Venezuelan National Assembly’s detailed plan for reconstruction—on […]

Latin America
Venezuela
Load More

Experts

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