POSTPONED – Ambassador Carlos Vecchio: Venezuela, the Opposition, Energy & the Road Ahead
*** Event POSTPONED until later in the spring***:
As a result of the war in Ukraine, and global concerns about oil supply and pricing, Ambassador Vecchio is not able to travel to Houston for the Council’s event on Thursday, March 10th.
Ambassador Vecchio is taking part in the discussions with the U.S. and others this week about global oil markets.
Therefore this event is being postponed until a later date in the spring. The Council will update the new event date as soon as it is confirmed with Ambassador Vecchio.
. . .
About the Event:
Except for nations which have been militarily invaded or have fallen into civil war, no country in modern history has experienced a greater economic, social and political collapse than Venezuela. Despite having the world’s largest proven oil reserves, over 6 million have fled as refugees, the average Venezuelan has lost over 25 pounds as a result of food scarcity, and the GDP per capita has declined by 87%. For the first time ever, the average Venezuelan is poorer than the average Haitian.
Representing the government of declared Interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaidó, Ambassador Carlos Vecchio is the chief diplomat and a lead architect of the opposition’s vital relations with not just the United States, but much of Latin America and the West. He will address their ongoing struggle against the Maduro regime in Venezuela, how a transition of power might be facilitated, and how to rebuild the nation after years of social, economic and political chaos.
Ambassador Vecchio will also discuss: the plight of Venezuelan refugees; the influence of the Venezuelan military; the conflicting roles of the West, China, Cuba & Russia; and the future possibilities to revitalize and harness Venezuela’s massive oil reserves. After years of complete disarray, might Venezuela finally be near a true turning point? And if so, what will be required to rebuild the country and heal its deep social divides?
About the Speaker:
Ambassador Carlos Vecchio, Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.S. of the Interim Government
Ambassador Carlos Vecchio was appointed by Interim President Juan Guaidó as Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United States, with the endorsement of the National Assembly. During the ceremony of acceptance of diplomatic credentials, President Donald Trump stated Vecchio was ‘the first Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States in 8 years and his appointment occurs at a historic moment that President Guaidó has courageously set for Venezuelans’.
In 2014, Vecchio fled Venezuela following an arrest warrant issued by Nicolás Maduro’s administration. From exile he became a primary spokesman for the opposition and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Vecchio is a co-founder of the major opposition party Voluntad Popular, in which he served as National Political Coordinator. He also served as a key coordinator in the presidential campaigns of opposition candidates Henrique Capriles and Leopoldo López.
Vecchio is a graduate of the Central University of Venezuela; and he received a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University and a Master of Laws from Georgetown University. Vecchio is also a former Fulbright Scholar and a World Fellow of Yale University.