The Last Line of Defense Maduro is Gone. Now What in Venezuela?
9 snips
Jan 7, 2026 
Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program at CSIS, dives into the shifting political landscape in Venezuela following Maduro's departure. He discusses U.S. objectives including counter-narcotics and migration policies. Ryan explains the complexities of the new leadership under Delcy Rodríguez and the implications of existing power structures. The conversation explores lessons from past regime changes and the risks of internal power struggles, shedding light on the future of stability and legitimacy in Venezuela.
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Three Explicit Political Objectives
- The administration has three political objectives: counter-narcotics, reducing migration, and curbing strategic rivals' influence in Venezuela.
- They chose a pragmatic leader to pursue measurable outcomes over immediate political legitimacy.
Drug Revenue Boomerangs Regionally
- Venezuela has become a larger transit hub for cocaine, roughly doubling to ~500 metric tons passing through according to DEA assessments.
- Revenues from trafficking sustain criminal organizations that destabilize the hemisphere even when drugs are destined for Europe.
Stability Over Immediate Legitimacy
- The U.S. prioritized short-term stability over immediate legitimacy by backing Delcy Rodríguez as a pragmatic stopgap leader.
- The administration expects to judge her by performance metrics tied to U.S. objectives rather than past legitimacy.
