Analysis

photo of Rebecca

Chavez: “It troubles me that the Venezuelan refugee crisis is not getting the attention it deserves”

The newly appointed President and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue, Rebecca Bill Chavez, spoke with the Washington Diplomat about her new role and the most urgent priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prominent among her concerns was the retrogression of democracy across the region, with a pointed focus on Venezuela. 

Rebecca Bill Chavez

Interviews ˙ ˙ The Washington Diplomat

Panelists and event card for the event Video

Venezuela’s Humanitarian and Human Rights Crises – The Search for Innovative Responses

On September 30, 2020, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted “Venezuela’s Humanitarian and Human Rights Crises-The Search for Innovative Responses” to discuss the current humanitarian situation as well as present the findings of the Dialogue’s Rule of Law Program’s report, Corruption and Crisis in Venezuela: Asset Repatriation for Humanitarian Relief.

Catharine Christie, Azul Hidalgo Solá

Event Summaries ˙

Nicolás Maduro

It’s Not the Time for War Games With Venezuela

The priority of the US in the country should be to avoid a humanitarian disaster, not sending naval destroyers.

Michael Shifter, Michael Camilleri

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ The New York Times

Nicolás Maduro

Recompensa por Maduro: “La acusación de EE.UU. puede cohesionar a las fuerzas armadas alrededor del presidente y hacer más difícil una negociación”

Estados Unidos ha dado un nuevo paso inusual en su política hacia Venezuela, al acusar al presidente Nicolás Maduro de “narcoterrorismo” y conspiración para traficar drogas. Michael Shifter, entrevistado por BBC, argumentó que los nuevos cargos de EE.UU. contra Maduro difícilmente contribuirán a una salida negociada en Venezuela.

Michael Shifter, Gerardo Lissardy

Interviews ˙ ˙ BBC

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Global Conversations: Challenges and Change in Latin America

Michael Shifter discussed in Minneapolis for Global Minnesota the complex and often strained relations between the US and Latin America including a look at immigration and trade policies, the reversal of the Cuban thaw, the Trump administration’s return to a more militant war on drugs, and the implications of recent developments with Venezuela and China.

Michael Shifter

Event Summaries ˙ ˙ Global Minnesota

A Critical Moment in Venezuela

In January, the surprising emergence of Juan Guaidó as the opposition’s leader was followed by months of frenetic activity on the Venezuela crisis. Today there seems to be a pause in the high drama. It is in this context that former Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, now the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is making a three-day visit to Venezuela. Although it is hard to predict the final result of the visit, there is little doubt that both sides of this tragic and protracted stalemate will seek to take maximum political advantage.

Michael Shifter

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ La Tercera

Five Ways Spain Can Lead on Venezuela

Over the past two weeks, Spain has become an accidental protagonist in the diplomatic efforts to end Venezuela’s crises.  The good news is that Spain is well-positioned to lead the effort to restore democracy in Venezuela. The bad news is that the Spanish government is deeply conflicted about what to do. But there are five clear ways that Spain can demonstrate that the democratic cause in Venezuela is not just a guise for U.S. adventurism. 

Irene Estefanía, Ben Raderstorf

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Americas Quarterly

Blackouts in Venezuela: Why the Power System Failed and How to Fix It

A lack of transmission-line maintenance may have been the immediate trigger for the power outage that left much of Venezuela in darkness on March 7, but it is a symptom of almost two decades of government mismanagement that has debilitated Venezuela’s power sector, draining its reserves of both human and financial capital and nudging it towards collapse.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Real Instituto Elcano

A Conversation with Juan Carlos Pinzón

On March 21, 2019 the Inter-American Dialogue hosted former defense minister and former Colombian ambassador to the United States Juan Carlos Pinzón for a private conversation with dialogue staff, representatives from other think-tanks and news outlets.

Pedro Garmendia

Event Summaries ˙

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Presentation to Special Meeting of the OAS Permanent Council: Blackouts in Venezuela

Venezuela’s longest-ever blackout, which began on March 7 and lasted until at least March 12 in most of the country, aggravated an already dire humanitarian situation. Lisa Viscidi presented to a special meeting of the OAS Permanent Council about how grave government mismanagement of the power sector debilitated Venezuela’s grid, making electricity rationing a routine and power failures commonplace. 

Lisa Viscidi

Presentations ˙ ˙ Organization of American States

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The International Standoff Over Venezuela

Energy Program Director Lisa Viscidi went on CGTN to discuss the latest developments in the increasingly international debate over how to peacefully resolve the crisis in embattled Venezuela. 

Lisa Viscidi

Interviews ˙ ˙ CGTN

Can Venezuela’s Political Standoff End Peacefully?

In what ways could mediation play out and bring a peaceful end to the standoff? How likely is wide-scale bloodshed, civil war or international military intervention to occur in the weeks ahead?

Sergio Bitar, Abraham Lowenthal, Evan Ellis, Bartłomiej Znojek

Latin America Advisor ˙

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The Political and Humanitarian Crises in Venezuela

Energy Program Director Lisa Viscidi spoke with CGTN about US sanctions on Venezuela and the effects they are having, both in terms of raising the pressure on Nicolás Maduro and heightening the risk of deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis. 

Lisa Viscidi

Interviews ˙ ˙ CGTN