Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations
Security Theme
State Stability and Infrastructure
Keywords
Political Stability, Political situation, human rights, prolonged crisis, humanitarian situation, U.S. sanctions, migration issues
Description
Venezuela, long one of the most prosperous countries in South America with the world’s largest oil reserves, has experienced an unprecedented political, economic, and humanitarian crisis under the authoritarian rule of Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Under Maduro, Venezuela has become a source of regional instability. Since 2014, millions of Venezuelan migrants and refugees have fled to neighboring countries and to the United States; criminal and terrorist groups have operated with impunity; and Russia, China, and Iran have increased their footprints in the region. The possibility that renewed negotiations between Maduro and the opposition could lead to a gradual resolution of the prolonged political power struggle that has stymied efforts to restore democracy is of great interest to many in Congress. Congress may maintain a keen interest in assessing whether these negotiations can lead to improvements in political, human rights, and humanitarian conditions in Venezuela, or whether Maduro will use them as a delaying tactic as many argue he has in the past.
Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations
Venezuela, long one of the most prosperous countries in South America with the world’s largest oil reserves, has experienced an unprecedented political, economic, and humanitarian crisis under the authoritarian rule of Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Under Maduro, Venezuela has become a source of regional instability. Since 2014, millions of Venezuelan migrants and refugees have fled to neighboring countries and to the United States; criminal and terrorist groups have operated with impunity; and Russia, China, and Iran have increased their footprints in the region. The possibility that renewed negotiations between Maduro and the opposition could lead to a gradual resolution of the prolonged political power struggle that has stymied efforts to restore democracy is of great interest to many in Congress. Congress may maintain a keen interest in assessing whether these negotiations can lead to improvements in political, human rights, and humanitarian conditions in Venezuela, or whether Maduro will use them as a delaying tactic as many argue he has in the past.
