Audio Briefs From Regime Change to Regime Management: Washington’s Venezuela Strategy
Jan 7, 2026
Christopher Hernandez-Roy, a senior commentator at CSIS and a keen analyst of U.S. foreign policy, delves into his insights on Venezuela's complex political landscape. He discusses a significant shift from promoting democracy through regime change to managing the existing regime, emphasizing key pillars like security compliance and economic reorientation. Hernandez-Roy explores the implications of repression and the risks tied to U.S. intervention, underscoring that stability without legitimacy is a precarious balance that may backfire in the long run.
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From Regime Change To Regime Management
- The U.S. shifted from democracy-driven regime change to coercive regime management in Venezuela.
- Washington now prioritizes enforceable economic, security, and geopolitical concessions over immediate democratic transition.
Four Pillars Define U.S. Demands
- The administration's framework rests on four enforceable pillars: security compliance, economic realignment, geopolitical reorientation, and conditional continuity.
- Continued Chavista rule is acceptable only if these measurable outcomes serve U.S. interests.
Selective Decapitation Preserved Balance
- The U.S. captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife while sparing other senior figures like Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino López.
- That selective targeting preserved regime balance and avoided creating a leadership vacuum.