Venezuela talks continue but amid steep obstacles

While there is moderate optimism among European, Latin American and Caribbean countries about a negotiated solution to Venezuela’s crisis, the United States remains sceptical. The US position strengthens more hawkish but domestically unpopular elements in the opposition that support a military intervention to remove President Nicolas Maduro.

Amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, it will become morally and politically difficult to hold out for Maduro’s departure.