Venezuela in Crisis and under the United States’ Mounting Pressure

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3 December 2025 (Wednesday)
15:00-16:30 (Warsaw)
9:00-10:30 (Bogotá)
10:00-11:30 (Caracas and Georgetown)
Polish Institute of International Affairs
Warecka 1A, Warsaw
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On 10 January, Nicolás Maduro began his third term as Venezuela’s leader. This followed months of increased repression and terror that the Venezuelan regime used to enforce its fraud in the 28 July 2024 presidential election. This new phase of descent into authoritarianism coincided with Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency. For a few months, his administration’s policy on Venezuela has been far from coherent or clear in terms of the actual premises and goals. Since August, the U.S. has scaled up pressure on Venezuela with the accusation and increased bounty on Maduro (as head of the so-called Cartel de los Soles), the growing U.S. Marine presence in the Caribbean, including deadly attacks on civilian boats, and Trump’s further threats against the Venezuelan regime. This seminar, convened by the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), will discuss how the tense context influences potential scenarios for Venezuela and the region’s stability.

AGENDA

15:00–15:05 | Welcome remarks

• Justyna Szczudlik, Deputy Head of Research, PISM

15:05–16:30 | Discussion

Speakers:

• Phil Gunson, Senior Analyst for the Andes Region, International Crisis Group (online, Caracas)
• Mark Kirton, Director, Centre for International and Border Studies (online, Georgetown, Guyana)
• Stefania Kolarz, EU Law and OSCE Analyst, PISM
• Víctor M. Mijares, Associate Professor, Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia (online, Bogotá)
  
  Moderation: Bartłomiej Znojek, Latin America Aanalyst, PISM