Venezuela’s crisis: Maduro’s survival, Trump’s military pressure, BRICS politics, drugs and oil

In this episode of WorldView with Swasti, Dr. Swasti Rao, Consulting Editor and Foreign Policy Expert, delves into Venezuela’s volatile political landscape and its deep entanglement with global power rivalries. Joining her are Dr. Vasabjit Banerjee, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, and Dr. Antonio Jorge Ramalho da Rocha, Director of the Pandiá Calógeras Institute of Brazil’s Ministry of Defense and Professor at the University of Brasília.
Together, they examine how Nicolás Maduro has maintained a tight grip on power despite sanctions, failed coups, and international isolation. The discussion spans the U.S. and Trump’s strategies against Caracas, Venezuela’s dependence on oil and criminal networks, and the country’s growing ties with Russia and China. The conversation also unpacks Brazil’s decision to block Venezuela’s entry into BRICS, and the broader regional hesitations about aligning with Washington’s approach. From the refugee crisis rippling through Latin America, to the presence of Russian aircraft and Turkish financial channels, this episode explores how Venezuela’s crisis transcends borders, reshaping the balance of power in the Americas and beyond.