Political developments following the U.S. execution of "Operation Absolute Resolve" on January 3rd mark a new phase in Venezuela's prolonged political crisis. With institutions hollowed out, authority fragmented, and limited state capacity, political actors are facing contested legitimacy, weak enforcement mechanisms, and persistent governance and security risks. These conditions present real consequences for regional stability, migration, energy markets, sanctions policy, and diplomatic norms. At the same time, unresolved questions of political persecution, human rights, and accountability complicate any path toward normalization, making the sequencing of power, justice, and reconstruction a central strategic challenge.

On Thursday, February 26, at 9 am PT, the Pacific Council, in partnership with Espacio Crítico, will convene leading voices from Venezuela's democratic opposition and the human rights and international law communities to assess what comes next. This discussion will examine plausible political scenarios, key governance constraints, and the human rights and accountability considerations likely to shape the months ahead. Members will hear from Génesis Dávila, Founder of Defiende Venezuela; Freddy Guevara, Democracy Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Former Deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela; Pedro Urruchurtu, Leader of Vente Venezuela, and Coordinator of International Affairs for María Corina Machado; and Miguel Pizarro, Director of Espacio Crítico.

Why it's important:

• The Trump administration is working with Mr. Maduro's former vice president and successor, Delcy Rodríguez. Over the past month, Ms. Rodríguez reoriented Venezuela's crude oil exports to the United States and rewrote the country's oil law to bring in American investment.
• There is debate over whether Venezuela is truly in a period of transition following Maduro's removal, with some expressing skepticism about whether the government will hold elections in the near future and whether Delcy Rodríguez, in her role as acting president, is seeking to extend constitutional deadlines indefinitely to remain in power. 
• To date, the U.S. military has seized seven Venezuelan oil tankers. And the U.S. is selling Venezuelan oil through two Swiss oil trading firms, both of which pled guilty to paying bribes in the past.

To register for this webinar, visit the Zoom Registration Page.

Guest Speaker 

Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli is a Venezuelan activist, political scientist, and university professor. He currently serves as the International Relations Coordinator in the office of opposition leader María Corina Machado, of President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, and of the ConVzla campaign—a role that led to his political persecution by the Venezuelan regime.

As a consequence, he was forced to seek asylum at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, where he was held hostage by the regime for more than 400 days, until he was rescued in a precise and remarkable international operation led by the United States. From within the embassy, and despite the constant siege he faced, Urruchurtu successfully managed the campaign’s international relations, maintaining contact with governments, foreign ministries, parliaments, political and civil society organizations, and allies of the Venezuelan democratic cause.

He also serves as the International Affairs Coordinator for Vente Venezuela and as Coordinator for Political Parties within the Liberal Network of Latin America (RELIAL), where he previously held the position of Vice President. Additionally, he is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Global Competitiveness Leadership Program. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a concentration in International Relations, from the School of Political and Administrative Studies at the Central University of Venezuela, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Urruchurtu has played a key role in the fight against Venezuela’s tyranny, shaping the international strategy that has exposed the regime’s abuses and mobilized decisive support for the democratic cause. Even during his political captivity, he continued to lead the opposition’s international relations, becoming a symbol of civic resistance and commitment to freedom. He has published numerous opinion pieces and co-authored several books on geopolitics, China’s influence in Latin America, leadership, and liberal democracy. He has also contributed to the training of young leaders in areas such as democracy, leadership, international relations, and human rights, helping to empower a new generation committed to freedom.

Moderator 

Miguel Pizarro is a Venezuelan activist with extensive experience in human rights, international advocacy, and strengthening civil society in contexts of democratic backsliding. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with civil society organizations, multilateral bodies, governments, cooperation agencies, and international organizations to raise awareness of the Venezuelan crisis, promote the protection of fundamental rights, and seek solutions to the humanitarian emergency. 

He was elected deputy to the National Assembly of Venezuela in 2010, at the age of 21, and was re-elected in 2015, representing one of the largest popular neighborhoods (barrios) in Latin America. Since 2019, he has held various positions as a representative to the United Nations (UN) and in the area of foreign relations. 

His experience in international coordination has been key to promoting measures against those responsible for human rights violations, channeling humanitarian aid, and advancing accountability mechanisms in forums such as the UN, the Organization of American States, and the International Criminal Court. He has actively participated in the drafting and follow-up of resolutions on Venezuela at the UN Human Rights Council, as well as in monitoring initiatives linked to the humanitarian emergency and the progressive shrinking of civic space in the country. 

His experience in advocacy, political strategy, and international cooperation has made him a central figure in the fight against authoritarianism and in the search for solutions in crisis contexts.

 

To register for this webinar, visit the Zoom Registration Page.