27th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Threats to US National Security in the Western Hemisphere

Hon. Juan Guaidó argued that the greatest threat to security in the Western Hemisphere is the existence of authoritarian regimes, particularly in Venezuela, which he said actively use cyber propaganda, organized crime, drug trafficking, and migration as strategic weapons. Drawing from his experience in exile, he described how the Maduro regime suppresses free speech, imprisons opponents, and manipulates public opinion through state-controlled media and foreign-backed disinformation networks, including Russian outlets such as Sputnik.

He emphasized that Venezuela’s crisis has forced nearly eight million people to flee, representing about a quarter of the population, and warned that migration is being weaponized through criminal groups like Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles, which he linked directly to the regime. According to Guaidó, these networks are intertwined with support from Russia, Iran, and China, turning Venezuela into a hub for money laundering, drug trafficking, and geopolitical leverage against the United States.

He stressed that impunity allows such regimes to persist, noting that repression, election manipulation, and the jailing of opposition candidates continue without serious consequences. He called for stronger international support to help restore democracy in Venezuela, arguing that defeating authoritarianism there would weaken organized crime, curb forced migration, and limit the influence of U.S. adversaries in the region. He concluded that defending democracy in Venezuela is not only a national cause but a matter of regional stability and U.S. security.