School of War Ep 257: Elliott Abrams on the Venezuela Crisis
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Dec 16, 2025 
Elliott Abrams, a seasoned U.S. foreign policy official and authority on Latin America, dives deep into the Venezuela crisis from his perspective as the former U.S. Special Representative. He discusses Maduro's rise and regime corruption, emphasizing drug trafficking's role in sustaining the government. Abrams contrasts Biden's and Trump's approaches to Venezuela, exploring potential military options and the resilience of the opposition, spotlighting the symbolic escape of Maria Corina Machado. He warns about the perils of U.S. retreat from the region.
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Venezuela's Long Decline To Authoritarianism
- Venezuela shifted from a rich democracy to a criminalized authoritarian state under Chavez and Maduro over decades.
- Elliott Abrams emphasizes mass emigration and economic collapse as key markers of that decline.
Regime Survival Through Criminal Economies
- The Maduro regime sustains itself through oil sanctions-busting and involvement in drug, gold, and human trafficking.
- Abrams cites army complicity where generals profit from trafficking to maintain loyalty.
Noriega Comparison And The Offer To Leave
- Abrams compares Maduro's indictment to Manuel Noriega's 1988 indictment in U.S. courts.
- He recounts that Noriega was offered safe exit but refused and later jailed, implying a similar offer to Maduro.