Shockwaves after Maduro: How U.S. pressure is reshaping Latin America's political balance

In this episode of Unconventional Knowledge, Andrew Kureth speaks with Alejandro Peña Esclusa about the unraveling of the authoritarian power network that has shaped Latin America for more than two decades.

The discussion centers on Venezuela’s fragile transition after the removal of Nicolás Maduro, examining whether recent developments signal a genuine break with the past or a controlled reset by the same criminal structures. They assess early indicators to watch, from the withdrawal of Cuban security forces and the release of political prisoners to the prospects for elections and economic stabilization.

From Caracas, the conversation widens to Havana and Bogotá. Peña Esclusa explains how Cuba’s dependence on Venezuelan oil and security cooperation has become a strategic liability, why Washington now views Havana as a national security threat, and how pressure on Venezuela is reverberating through Colombia’s political system ahead of critical elections.

The episode also explores the weakening of the São Paulo Forum, the future of leftist coordination in the region, and the limits of U.S. influence in rolling back China’s economic and strategic footprint across Latin America.

A clear-eyed discussion of power, security, and regime durability, offering concrete indicators for what may determine whether the region stabilizes or enters a new phase of turbulence in the months ahead.

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