What's Happening in Venezuela? A Resource Guide

At a rally in Caracas on January 23 and citing the Venezuelan Constitution, Speaker of Congress Juan Guaidó administered the oath of office to himself to become interim president of Venezuela. Hear from AS/COA experts and check out resources on the moment and all that’s led to it.

AS/COA in the News

Interviews and speeches

• "It would be of little benefit to replace existing corruption with new corruption." —Eric Farnsworth to the U.S. Foreign Relations Subcomittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs (March 7, 2019)
• "The best chance [the Chinese have] of having their debts repaid is with a Guaidó interim government." —Eric Farnsworth to VOA (March 5, 2019)
• "The [U.S.] administration is hoping to starve the regime of financial resources." —Eric Farnsworth to McClatchy (March 4, 2019)
• "It speaks to Guaidó's high popularity." —Brian Winter to The Washington Post on the interim president's return to Venezuela without being arrested (March 4, 2019)
• "No se puede esperar que el de Maduro sea un régimen imparcial en unas elecciones presidenciales". —Guillermo Zubillaga en CNN en Español (February 28, 2019)
• "[Maduro] has trashed the economy." —Eric Farnsworth on Fox Business (February 27, 2019)
• "[Military action] would be a step too far that would break up the international coalition against Maduro." —Eric Farnsworth in The Wall Street Journal (February 24, 2019)
• "You can decapitate the [Maduro] regime, but there will still be … armed goon squads who may be spoiling to fight." —Eric Farnsworth to The Washington Post (February 24, 2019)
• "I don’t know that anyone can give a timeline of when the dam might break, and it’s quite possible that it won’t." —Eric Farnsworth to the Associated Press (February 23, 2019)
• "So far [the opposition has] been kind of successful in at least putting Maduro in a situation where he has to respond to them rather than the other way around." —Guillermo Zubillaga on Yahoo Finance (February 22, 2019)
• "Under current conditions you can’t have elections that are free and fair." —Eric Farnsworth to McClatchy (February 22, 2019)
• "Unless there’s a credible plan for distribution [of the aid]…then it could potentially backfire." —Eric Farnsworth to the AP (February 19, 2019)
• "I don’t consider Maduro a leftist. I consider him an authoritarian." —Eric Farnsworth to The New York Times (February 18, 2019)
• "If there’s still any doubt about whether the Maduro regime is a dictatorship, FAES should prove that it is." —Guillermo Zubillaga to Fox News (February 16, 2019)
• "We are going to see in the coming weeks really what these sanctions … can bring to the table." —Guillermo Zubillaga to Yahoo Finance (February 13, 2019)
• "If you don’t [let humanitarian aid in,] you’re seen as a tyrant." —Eric Farnsworth to the AP (February 11, 2019)
• "There's nothing at this point that would require Maduro to leave." —Eric Farnsworth on CSIS' 35 West (February 8, 2019)
• "El oro le sirve para crear un cerco contra las sanciones financieras". —Guillermo Zubillaga en Voz de América (February 8, 2019)
• "Are there incentives built into these contacts that will…cause people to question their loyalty?"
  —Eric Farnsworth to Reuters (February 8, 2019)
• "[Carlos Vecchio has] always been an agent of unity in the opposition." —Guillermo Zubillaga to McClatchy (February 8, 2019)
• "This is going to be a full reconstruction of a collapsing country." —Eric Farnsworth on the BBC's Newsnight (February 4, 2019)
• "[Maduro is] going to have to be forced out." —Eric Farnsworth to McClatchy (February 4, 2019)
• "It's harder for military officials to change sides." —Eric Farnsworth on CBC (February 3, 2019)
• "The [United States'] primary motivation I believe is one of trying to relieve humanitarian distress." —Eric Farnsworth to Bloomberg (February 1, 2019)
• "The Chinese have $40 billion on the line that needs to be paid." —Guillermo Zubillaga on Yahoo Finance (January 29, 2019)
• "The military remains the ultimate arbiter." —Eric Farnsworth to Christian Science Monitor (January 29, 2019)
• "No puedo pensar en una medida que tenga mayor impacto". —Guillermo Zubillaga en VOA sobre las sanciones de EE.UU. a Venezuela (January 29, 2019)
• "There is potential for actual chaos on the ground." —Eric Farnsworth to The Guardian (January 28, 2019)
• "Removing Maduro would in some ways be like the Hydra of Greek mythology." —Eric Farnsworth to The Washington Post (January 26, 2019)
• "This is the kind of crisis that can make the UN relevant or irrelevant." —Guillermo Zubillaga on Al Jazeera (January 25, 2019)
• "Guaidó’s moves are bold but also according to Venezuelan law." —Eric Farnsworth to The Boston Globe (January 25, 2019)
• "Guaidó has … been able to articulate and unite the opposition." —Guillermo Zubillaga to PRI (January 24, 2019)
• "People are aware of the perceptions of the history of the United States in Latin America." —Eric Farnsworth on WNYC's The Takeaway (January 24, 2019)
• "It's not up to [Maduro] at this point." —Guillermo Zubillaga on CTV News (January 24, 2019)
• "[Guaidó] really carries no baggage that could discredit a politician." —Guillermo Zubillaga to Christian Science Monitor (January 24, 2019)
• "The most serious threat [Maduro] has faced." —Eric Farnsworth to The Guardian (January 24, 2019)
• "[Disrupting oil revenues] would be more powerful than a weapon." —Guillermo Zubillaga on Yahoo Finance (January 24, 2019)
• "[This] turns the Maduro regime into an international pariah." —Eric Farnsworth to The Washington Post (January 23, 2019)
• "[Rubio's] causing other people to react and move." —Eric Farnsworth to McClatchy (January 23, 2019)
• "The [Venezuelan] security forces are the arbiter here." —Eric Farnsworth on CNN International (January 23, 2019)
• "Nobody has yet won a bet predicting Maduro’s departure." —Eric Farnsworth to The Washington Post (January 9, 2019)
• "It is time for Maduro to go." —U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley's remarks at the 48th COA Washington Conference on the Americas (May 8, 2018)
• "Whoever is silent today is complicit." —Lilian Tintori remarks at AS/COA New York event (October 5, 2015)

Articles, op-eds, and Q&As

• "We Just Need the Armed Forces to Take the Step" (January 22, 2019)
  In this Americas Quarterly Q&A, exiled opposition leader David Smolansky speaks about Venezuela’s “unified front” and his friend Juan Guaidó.
• "Meet Juan Guaidó, the New Face of Venezuela's Opposition" (January 9, 2019)
  Juan Guaidó’s youth gives him less baggage than many of his colleagues. Will that help him take on Maduro? AS/COA’s Guillermo Zubillaga profiles him for Americas Quarterly.
• "At the G20, Trump Should Work with China and Russia on the Crisis in Venezuela" (November 29, 2018)
  President Donald Trump’s trip to Argentina could be among the most consequential of any U.S. leader's to Latin America, writes AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth in The Washington Post.
• "Venezuela Can't Become Another Rwanda" (September 20, 2018)
  In this Americas Quarterly podcast episode, OAS head Luis Almagro outlines why a regional response to Venezuela is more urgent than ever.
• "The Gathering Storm in Venezuela" (May 27, 2018)
  As Venezuela hurtles toward global pariah status, democracies worldwide are finally acknowledging the crisis, writes AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth for Univision News.
• "Meet 10 People Who Will (One Day) Rebuild Venezuela" (April 23, 2018)
  Rebuilding Venezuela will require a diverse mix of people with great talent and realistic goals. Americas Quarterly Editor-in-Chief Brian Winter takes a hard look at the challenges ahead.
• "Venezuela's Downward Spiral" (April 28, 2017)
  "The patience of long-suffering Venezuelans appears to be running out," writes AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth in HuffPost.
• "Is There Hope for Change in Venezuela?" (April 8, 2017)
  Without economic reform, there’s no immediate way for the government to address Venezuela’s troubles, writes AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth for Barron’s.
• "Venezuela's Long Slide toward Chaos" (February 25, 2016)
  The international community should back democracy in Venezuela, writes AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth for The National Interest.
• "Chavismo Isn't the Force It Once Was" (December 1, 2015)
  Every poll is a snapshot—and they paint a picture of a Venezuela in flux, says Datanalisis Executive Director Luis Vicente León in this AS/COA Online Q&A.

Events and Resources

Electoral irregularities and constitutional crises

• "Timeline: Venezuela's Political Standoff," by Holly K. Sonneland (March 6, 2019)
• "What's Next in Venezuela's Tug-of-War?" Guillermo Zubillaga podcast interview (February 5, 2019)
• "The Case against Venezuela in the ICC," by Holly K. Sonneland (October 4, 2018)
• "10 Ways Maduro Could Leave Office," by Holly K. Sonneland (August 9, 2018)
• "Everything More Important than Venezuela's Election," Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez podcast interview (May 16, 2018)
• "¿Qué pasará en Venezuela después del 20 de mayo?" New York event video (May 14, 2018)
• "Social Media As a Tool of Democracy in Venezuela," New York event video (February 14, 2018)
• "A Plea for Action with Antonio Ledezma," Washington, DC event video (November 29, 2017)
• "3 Ways Venezuela Tampered with Sunday's Regional Elections," by Holly K. Sonneland (October 13, 2017)
• "What to Know about Venezuela's Escalating Turmoil," by Holly K. Sonneland (August 2, 2017)
• "La crisis constitucional de Venezuela" Miami event video (July 13, 2017)
• "Political and Economic Crises Converge with Supreme Court Decision," by Holly K. Sonneland (Marcy 30, 2017)
• "Five Times the Maduro Government Flouted the Constitution," by Holly K. Sonneland (October 25, 2016)
• "Julio Borges on Civil Disobedience in Venezuela," podcast interview (August 17, 2016)
• "The Role of the Venezuelan Military in Politics," by Holly K. Sonneland (July 19, 2016)
• "What Is the Recall Referendum Process in Venezuela?" by Holly K. Sonneland (April 28, 2016)
• "Luz Mely Reyes sobre el rol de las redes sociales en la democracia venezolana," podcast interview (April 25, 2016)
• "Venezuela's Constitutional Crisis: What Just Happened?" by Holly K. Sonneland (January 15, 2016)
• "Fast Facts about Venezuela's December 6 Elections," by Holly K. Sonneland (December 3, 2015)
• "HRW's José Miguel Vivanco on the Leopoldo López Verdict," podcast interview (September 16, 2015)

The economy, oil, and bond payments

• "Chart: The Collapse of Venezuela's Oil Production," by Holly K. Sonneland (January 24, 2018)
• "Why Restructuring Venezuelan Debt Won't Happen under Maduro," Siobhan Morden podcast interview (November 8, 2017)
• "Venezuela and PDVSA's Bonds: What to Expect," New York event video (April 6, 2017)
• "Venezuela's Oil and Military Ties with China and Russia," by Holly K. Sonneland (February 15, 2017)
• "Chart: The Cuba-Venezuela Oil Relationship," by Elizabeth Gonzalez (August 4, 2016)
• "Moody's Jaime Reusche on a Venezuelan Default," podcast interview (March 2, 2016)
• "Chart: The Venezuelan Economy in Numbers," by Holly K. Sonneland (January 20, 2016)

Migration and health crisis

• "The Venezuelan Exodus," Tamara Taraciuk Broner podcast interview (September 12, 2018)
• "Venezuelea's Migration Crisis," New York event video (June 7, 2018)
• "6 Weeks to Fix Venezuela's Health Crisis," Susana Raffalli podcast interview (July 21, 2017)
• "Chart: Venezuela's Crisis by the Numbers," by Holly K. Sonneland (July 6, 2017)
• "Venezuela's Humanitarian Crisis," Washington, DC event video (June 1, 2017)
• "Chart: Venezuela's Infant and Maternal Health Crisis," by Holly K. Sonneland (May 18, 2017)
• "Venezuela Is Running Short of Everything," by Holly K. Sonneland (March 24, 2016)

This guide was originally published January 24 and is regularly updated as more materials are published.