Venezuela After Maduro
Simon Romero
Thursday, April 02, 2026 | 03:00 pm
Reading Room (third floor) | Ortega Hall
801 Yale Blvd NE (campus building #165)
About:
The capture by U.S. forces in January of Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro, represents a seismic shift in Washington's approach to dealing with Latin America. The United States is once again prioritizing raw military power over diplomacy to achieve its policy objectives, echoing interventionist strategies that were prevalent in the Americas a century ago. In the aftermath of the military intervention in Caracas, Venezuela has been transforming from an ideological nemesis of the United States into a de facto protectorate where Washington rules supreme. These changes spotlight the long-term strategic importance of Venezuela, with its colossal oil reserves, and the potential for renewed turmoil and pushback given Venezuela's history of resource nationalism and skepticism over U.S. meddling in domestic affairs.
Simon Romero is an International Correspondent with The New York Times currently covering the events unfolding in Venezuela. He is one of the most experienced U.S. journalists covering Latin America. Since being hired by the Times in 1999 in São Paulo, Brazil, he has served as the newspaper's Bureau Chief in Caracas and Rio de Janeiro; as International Energy Correspondent based in Houston; and as a National Correspondent covering the American West, based in Albuquerque. He is now based in Mexico City, and travels widely throughout Latin America. He was born and raised in northern New Mexico, and graduated with honors from Harvard College.
Notes:
This event is free and open to the public.
