Foreign Policy Live Is Trump Angling for Regime Change in Venezuela?
23 snips
Nov 14, 2025 
Join Oliver Stuenkel, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and expert on Latin American politics, as he and host Ravi Agrawal dive into the complexities of U.S. military actions toward Venezuela. They discuss the Trump administration’s strategy and its implications for Cuba and regional dynamics. Stuenkel explores the challenges post-Maduro planning poses, how personal relationships influence foreign policy, and the growing role of China amidst U.S. unpredictability. A fascinating look into geopolitics!
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Show Of Force Over Full-Scale Invasion
- The U.S. military buildup aims mainly to scare Nicolás Maduro into resigning rather than to launch a full invasion.
- Internal White House factions disagree, with some preferring negotiation and others pushing for harder pressure.
No Clear Post-Maduro Plan
- Venezuela's military-led regime and weak opposition make a clean transition unlikely without careful post-Maduro planning.
- Stuenkel warns the U.S. lacks clear thinking about who would govern or how transitional justice would work.
Danger Of Slippery Labels
- U.S. labels like 'narco-terrorism' risk broad application and regional alarm among militaries and governments.
- Such rhetoric could push Latin American countries to diversify ties toward powers like China.
