To seize the opportunity for a democratic transition in Venezuela in the wake of Nicolás Maduro's January capture, the United States should update a power-sharing framework proposed in 2020 to serve as a road map for the restoration of Venezuela’s democratic institutions.
Issue Brief
June 15, 2026 • 4:50 pm ET
Geoff Ramsey
Bottom lines up front
An entrenched authoritarian government in Venezuela is not in the US national interest.The US has real leverage to make specific, hard asks to push Caracas toward a democratic transition—and it should.With updates, the Democratic Transition Framework the first Trump administration drafted in 2020 can serve as a foundation for transition planning in 2026.
Venezuela government, Opposition hold U.S.-backed talks on democratic transition
Venezuela govt, opposition hold US-backed talks on democratic transition
US welcomes talks between Venezuelan government and opposition
Her boss is in US prison. How the woman running Venezuela got Trump on her side | CNN
