Loading... please wait

Venezuela’s Pivotal July 28th: Charting a New Course for Democracy and Global Collaboration

SpeakerS:

The Hon. John Negroponte, Vice Chairman, McLarty Associates
Daniel Erikson, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. National Security Council
The Hon. Ana Irene Delgado, Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Republic of Panama
Rafael de la Cruz, Director of the Office of Maria Corina Machado in the United States, ConVzla Presidential Campaign

“Think of it—a country with a relatively low population and the largest fossil fuel reserve in the world, largest oil reserves, and that's quite extraordinary, the deterioration that has taken place under such bad governance and mismanagement.” The Hon. John Negroponte
“From the U.S. perspective, Venezuela is a critical issue. It's a critical issue for the hemisphere, for U.S. interests in the hemisphere, and really for the future of democracy both in the region and globally.”
“We had a military dictatorship in Panama, and the government that came after that, and going back to what Mr. Rafael said to us, it would be very difficult to recover after it, and believe it or not, that government recovered pretty fast and much faster than people thought.” The Hon. Ana Irene Delgado
“There's no way to hide behind any institution there—all of them clearly are part of the same regime.” Rafael de la Cruz

Key takeaways:

  • Venezuela’s democratic struggle: The panel highlighted the ongoing struggle for democracy in Venezuela, emphasizing the critical role of the international community in supporting these efforts.
  • U.S. perspective on Venezuela: Daniel Erikson emphasized that Venezuela is a critical issue for the United States and the hemisphere. He noted that President Biden mentioned Venezuela in his address to the UN General Assembly, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to supporting democratic change.
  • Role of sanctions: The discussion addressed the impact of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. Daniel Erikson mentioned that sanctions are a tool, not an answer, and should be used alongside diplomatic efforts to encourage democratic outcomes.
  • International cooperation: Rafael de la Cruz expressed gratitude for the bipartisan support from the United States and other countries in Latin America and Europe. He emphasized that the fight for democracy in Venezuela is supported globally across different political spectrums.
  • Migration crisis impacting Panama: Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado highlighted how the Venezuelan crisis has led to a significant increase in migration through Panama’s Darien Gap, affecting both humanitarian and environmental conditions.

Action items:

  • International support for Venezuelan democracy: Continue and enhance diplomatic efforts to support Venezuela’s democratic opposition, ensuring cohesive international pressure for free and fair elections.
  • Reassess sanctions strategy: Evaluate the effectiveness of current sanctions on Venezuela, calibrating them to encourage democratic progress while considering humanitarian impacts. 
  • Address the migration crisis: Collaborate with regional partners to manage and mitigate the humanitarian and environmental challenges posed by increased migration through the Darien Gap in Panama. 
  • Promote bipartisan engagement: Encourage bipartisan cooperation within countries like the United States to sustain consistent foreign policy support for democracy in Venezuela. 
  • Leverage multilateral organizations: Utilize platforms like the Organization of American States (OAS) to coordinate policies and actions aimed at strengthening democracy and national security in the region. 

Copyright © 2024 Concordia.

All rights reserved. Concordia is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.