How the international community can help save Venezuela

Any hope for democratization now requires relentless pressure on Maduro’s regime, demanding recognition of González as the president elect.

The recent presidential election in Venezuela concluded with an outcome that surprised few but angered many. Several hours after the polls closed, the country’s electoral authority declared incumbent President Nicolás Maduro the winner, despite credible exit polls showing that opposition candidate Edmundo González secured between 60 to 70 percent of the vote.

The authorities’ announcement of Maduro’s fraudulent victory, condemned by the opposition and international observers, was a blatant attempt to cling to power despite evidence of his overwhelming loss. Military leadership, aligning with Maduro before the official results were declared, demonstrated the regime’s tight control over national institutions.

Any hope for democratization now requires relentless pressure on Maduro’s regime, demanding recognition of González as the president elect.

The U.S. has expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the results and will consider sanctions if voting data is not released, but concern and consideration are not enough. Instead, the U.S. and the international community must adopt a decisive approach to address this crisis effectively and immediately.

When Guatemala faced a similar crisis in 2023, the U.S. immediately placed travel restrictions and financial sanctions on leading regime figures guilty of undermining the election’s democratic outcome. The U.S. rallied a broad spectrum of leaders from the EU and Organization of American States to condemn the government’s antidemocratic actions. By the end of the year, the self-coup had been averted, and not a single country had supported the outgoing government in its efforts to rig the outcome against the democratically elected opposition.

The coming months will provide another test for the international community’s ability to stand up for democracy.

Unity among the opposition and their international allies will be paramount. While several countries have rejected the fraudulent results, key Maduro allies in Brazil and Colombia have yet to address the election. Mexico’s leftist government has recognized the election, pending “detailed reports” from National Electoral Council. Venezuela will also receive support from Russia, China and Iran in the broader geopolitical struggle between authoritarianism and liberal democracy. To counter authoritarianism, the democratic outcry must be more than just words.

The response must be swift and unequivocal, hitting Maduro’s regime where it hurts most — its finances and international support. High-level Venezuelan leaders should be immediately sanctioned, and broader sanctions should be reinstated and intensified, targeting key sectors that prop up Maduro’s regime. Even the Chevron waiver, which allows Venezuelan oil to be imported into the U.S., should be on the table, if election authorities refuse to provide transparent voting data. The U.S. must rally partners to join these sanctions, ensuring that they are comprehensive enough to force a reconsideration of the current power dynamics in Venezuela.

Diplomatic isolation is equally critical. Recognizing González as the president elect is a significant step, but it must be accompanied by barring Maduro’s representatives from international forums and denying them any semblance of recognition or legitimacy.

Supporting democratic institutions and civil society within Venezuela will also be crucial. The National Electoral Council’s refusal to share tallies from voting machines, despite Venezuelan laws requiring their release, enables electoral fraud. Ensuring that these receipts are shared and verified will help hold the regime accountable. Financial aid, training and international advocacy will be required to bolster the opposition’s ability to challenge the regime effectively.

As the political crisis deepens, the humanitarian situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate. Maduro’s governance in Venezuela has already caused the world’s worst economic collapse outside of war and the globe’s largest migrant crisis. Surveys show that millions Venezuelans have plans to flee the country should Maduro remain in power.

Regional cooperation will be vital to address the broader issues of migration, crime and economic instability exacerbated by the Venezuelan crisis. The international community must increase its support for humanitarian aid, creating mechanisms to bypass regime controls and deliver aid directly to the people.

Venezuelans have shown remarkable resilience and courage in their fight for democracy. It is imperative that the international community stand with them. The response must include economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, support for the opposition, humanitarian assistance, regional cooperation and strategic alliances. Only through such decisive actions can we ensure that the will of the Venezuelan people is respected, and that democracy is restored in Venezuela.

The time for action is now. The future of Venezuela, and the integrity of global democracy, depends on it.

Carl Meacham is president and CEO of Global Americans, a think tank on U.S. policy towards the Americas. Robert Funk is vice president at Global Americans and associate professor of political science at the University of Chile. Scott Brasesco is senior director at Global Americans.