Joel D. Hirst discusses how the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas (ALBA) has taken shape in the six years since its creation.

Joel D. Hirst discusses Hugo Chavez's attacks against Globovision, the only independent television news station left in Venezuel.

Joel D. Hirst says the decision by Colombia to send drug kingpin Walid Makled to Venezuala and not the United States is a mistake, but one that can be corrected.

Joel D. Hirst discusses recent arrest of Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled, and the implications of his extradition from Columbia to the United States.

Joel D. Hirst discusses the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and its ambitious plan to control information across Latin America.

Jonathan Pearl argues that in the Russia-Venezuela nuclear deal, the United States must be wary of Venezuela's relationship with Iran.

Venezuela's stepped-up efforts to develop nuclear power and tighten its bonds with Iran require a firm but deft diplomatic response from the Obama administration, write CFR's Joel Hirst and Jonathan Pearl.

Joel Hirst discusses the implications of Venezuela's national assembly elections.

Yesterday's National Assembly elections in Venezuela curtailed President Chávez's powers and opened the door to greater cooperation with the United States, says CFR's Joel Hirst.

Venezuela's National Assembly elections this weekend are a referendum on President Hugo Chávez and a "proxy" for the 2012 presidential elections, says expert Michael McCarthy. They could also bolster opposition movements in countries like Bolivia and Ecuador.

Joel Hirst discusses Venezuela's upcoming National Assembly election.

Shannon K. O'Neil discusses crime and violence in Venezuela.

Allan Brewer-Carias, a former Venezuelan legislator and opponent of President Hugo Chavez, says the referendum that overturned term limits on Chavez will strengthen the country's authoritarian strain but also signaled disapproval of Chavez's government.

Venezuela is trying to develop new markets for its oil at a time of increasing friction with its main customer, the United States. But a significant short-term shift in oil relations between Venezuela and the United States is unlikely.

This module features teaching notes for Living with Hugo: U.S. Policy Toward Hugo Chávez's Venezuela, by author Richard Lapper, along with other resources to supplement the text. This Council Special Report proposes a new strategic framework for U.S. policy toward Venezuela.

The financial crisis could lead the United States to turn inward and ignore challengers such as Vladimir Putin and Hugo Chavez. However, in this Bloomberg op-ed, Amity Shlaes warns against this temptation and points out that foreign issues have a way of becoming immediate as well.

Debating Venezuela's progress.

Venezuela’s alleged collusion with the FARC guerrilla group fighting Colombia’s government has serious implications for regional security.

With Washington facing increasing mistrust in Latin America, experts call for bolstering U.S. policy in areas such as energy security, migration, and poverty reduction.

This report was prepared for members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in preparation for their fact-finding mission to Ecuador and Colombia from March 18-19, 2008, in response to the FARC raid weeks prior.