Venezuela at the Crossroads, in the Cross Hairs

(Description primarily by Dr. David Ramsey Steele)

Eduardo will give us a factual overview of Venezuela’s political and economic collapse, the emergence of criminalized state structures, and how U.S. policy has shifted from diplomacy to pressure and now to active interdiction. The talk contrasts what Washington sees (a security and energy problem) with what Venezuelans live (a humanitarian and institutional collapse). Together, these perspectives reveal how decades of decisions brought Venezuela to its current crossroads--and in Washington's cross hairs.

Eduardo Martinez
Eduardo is a Venezuelan national who witnessed firsthand the country’s descent into political repression, economic collapse, and hyperinflation. A victim of state violence during the 2014 protests, he lived through severe shortages, currency freefall, and daily instability before relocating abroad. His lived experience shapes his perspectives today, where he focuses on explaining Venezuela’s crisis through historical context, geopolitical dynamics, and the human cost behind the headlines.