Q: You were US ambassador to Venezuela when Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, became president in 1999. Having seen the Bolivarian revolution firsthand, how does the economic and political backdrop then compare to now?
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A former US ambassador to Venezuela lays out what could be ahead for the crisis-ridden country
Business Insider spoke with John Maisto, the former US ambassador to Venezuela, about how the country got where it is and where it might be going.
Q: Last year, President Donald Trump said the US has a “military option” in Venezuela. Senator Marco Rubio has also seemed to suggest going that route. What do you think of calls for armed intervention in Venezuela?
Q: What about an internal military coup? Especially with reports of growing dissent within Venezuela’s armed forces. In September, for example, the New York Times reported the Trump administration met with Venezuelan military officers to discuss plans to overthrow Maduro.
Q: The State and Treasury departments have rolled out multiple rounds of sanctions in attempt to pressure the Venezuelan government, which is accused of undermining democracy and engaging in corruption and human rights violations. What other options does Washington have here?
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Q: What about internally? What do you think has to happen within Venezuela?
Q: What could a post-Maduro Venezuela look like?
Q: The US has so far fallen short of directly targeting Venezuela’s oil industry, but there have been reports that could change. This is controversial because oil makes up nearly all of the country’s export earnings and PDVSA is already operating at multidecade lows. Do you think the Trump administration would target the energy market?
Q: Some argue that Venezuela’s crisis cannot be stemmed without concessions from Cuba, accused of propping up the Maduro regime. Other than with sanctions, how might the US pressure Havana?
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