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 habló con Gustau Alegret de NTN24 para analizar el impacto potencial de la visita de la Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos Michelle Bachelet a Venezuela.
While the crisis in Venezuela is primarily humanitarian in nature, international involvement has escalated to the point where a discussion of the geopolitics surrounding the issue is both appropriate and timely. To that end, the Inter-American Dialogue co-hosted a discussion on May 21 titled “Is the Venezuela Crisis Becoming a Proxy Conflict?” with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
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.
On May 9, 2019, the Inter-American Dialogue, in partnership with Freedom House, hosted an event called “Corruption, Criminality, and Justice in a Post-Transition Venezuela.”
Venezuela’s stalemate will not last forever, but an immediate and easy return to democracy is highly unlikely. The quicker the opposition and its international supporters adapt their strategies to this hard reality, the sooner the country can begin to find a way out of this unprecedented crisis.
Venezuela may be slowly moving into a scenario in which the military moves to take full control, without Maduro, but not necessarily in accordance with Guaidó’s (and the constitution’s) terms and timetable for a transition.
Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, was interviewed for Background Briefing with Ian Masters, where he discussed the Trump administration’s foreign policy towards Venezuela during this crisis and how their militarist thinking is not the best course of action.
Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, was interviewed by BBC World News on the future of the Venezuelan armed forces amidst continuing protests as well as the possibility of US and Russian intervention.
Michael Shifter, presidente del Diálogo Interamericano, ofreció una entrevista al programa La Tarde de NTN24 en la que conversó sobre la actual situación en Venezuela.
En conversación con El Nuevo Siglo, el Presidente del centro de pensamiento Diálogo Interamericano dijo que, por ahora, Guaidó no tiene suficiente poder y contó que los militares siguen alineados con Maduro. “Hay una oposición bastante débil”, expresó.
Michael Shifter spoke with Laura Trevelyan on BBC World News to analyze the future of Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan military as as the pressure coming from the Trump administration.
On Thursday, April 25 the Inter-American Dialogue partnered with FIU’s Kimberly Green Latin America and Caribbean Center to host an event called “Transition Interrupted?” to discuss the Dialogue’s Venezuela Working Group’s most recent report that analyzes the potential for democratic change in Venezuela.
Han pasado casi tres meses desde que el líder opositor venezolano Juan Guaidó lanzó su desafío al régimen de Nicolás Maduro, pero ni la creciente presión internacional ni las sanciones económicas han conseguido desatornillar a la cúpula chavista del poder. Peter Hakim destaca que el régimen de Maduro conoce esos límites y los pone a prueba, a la vez que aprovecha el “miedo” de la población.
