The Briefing Room Venezuela – what now?
11 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
Hal Hodson, Americas editor for The Economist, Christopher Sabatini, a Latin America expert at Chatham House, and Vanda Felbab-Brown from the Brookings Institution come together to unravel the chaos in Venezuela. They dive into Maduro's economic mismanagement, the political power shift post-capture, and the implications for the oil industry. The trio critiques the U.S.'s influence and discusses the realities facing everyday Venezuelans as elites thrive. They explore potential paths forward and the geopolitical ramifications for the region.
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State Capture Under Chávez And Maduro
- Hugo Chávez consolidated power, politicised institutions, and empowered armed groups and security forces.
- Christopher Sabatini says Maduro deepened corruption and left the state bankrupt by 2013.
Power Projection, Not Democracy
- Donald Trump claims to be "running Venezuela" but means choosing a pliant administrator backed by force.
- Hal Hodson notes this is about projecting power, not democratic process.
Delcy Rodríguez As The Practical Choice
- Delcy Rodríguez is presented as a pragmatic oil and financial dealmaker within Maduro's circle.
- Christopher Sabatini highlights her technocratic reputation and investor contacts despite regime loyalty.