Friday, October 23, 2026.
Venezuela: A Nation Looking Toward a New Tomorrow
There are moments in the history of a nation when, after years of uncertainty, hardship, and seemingly endless challenges, the possibility of a brighter future begins to emerge. For Venezuela, a country blessed with extraordinary natural beauty, immense resources, and a remarkably resilient people, this may well be one of those moments.
For decades, Venezuela has occupied a complicated place in the hearts and minds of people throughout the world. Once among the most prosperous nations in Latin America, it became a country associated with political turmoil, economic collapse, and the heartbreaking departure of millions of its citizens in search of opportunity, stability, and a better life. Those who left carried with them more than their belongings. They carried memories of home, traditions, family ties, and the enduring hope that someday their country might offer them a reason to return.
Today, Venezuela is once again capturing international attention, but perhaps for reasons that offer something more encouraging than the headlines of years past. Political developments, renewed interest from international businesses, discussions surrounding economic recovery, and the possibility of reconnecting Venezuela with the global community are creating a sense of cautious optimism. While considerable challenges remain, the very possibility of meaningful change is something worth exploring.
For those of us who have made our homes outside the countries of our birth, there is something particularly moving about this story. As expatriates, we understand that home is not always defined by geography. It is found in our memories, our relationships, our language, and the places that shaped who we are. We also understand the courage required to begin again in a foreign country. Imagine, then, what the possibility of returning home might mean to the millions of Venezuelans who never truly wanted to leave in the first place.
Of course, optimism must be accompanied by realism. Rebuilding a nation requires more than political announcements or foreign investment. It demands confidence in institutions, respect for the rule of law, economic stability, personal security, and, perhaps most importantly, the restoration of trust among its people. These are not changes that happen overnight, and Venezuela’s path forward will undoubtedly have its share of obstacles.
Nevertheless, history reminds us that nations, much like individuals, possess an extraordinary capacity for renewal. Difficult chapters do not have to define an entire story, and the hardships of yesterday need not determine the opportunities of tomorrow.
In this week’s newsletter, we turn our attention to Venezuela, examining the developments taking place, the opportunities that may emerge, the challenges that remain, and what these changes could mean for expatriates, international businesses, travelers, and the Venezuelan diaspora around the world.
For our fellow expatriates, there is also a practical lesson in Venezuela’s evolving situation. Whether you are considering visiting the country, exploring a business opportunity, investing in property, or simply reconnecting with family and friends, this is a time to remain informed without allowing enthusiasm to outrun good judgment. Monitor official travel advisories, verify entry requirements and transportation arrangements, understand the legal and financial risks of any proposed investment, and seek reliable local guidance before making commitments. Those with business interests should pay particular attention to changing regulations, sanctions, banking restrictions, and the reliability of potential partners. Opportunities may indeed be emerging, but careful preparation and sound due diligence remain essential. As expatriates, we have learned that adapting to change is part of the adventure of living internationally, and that the most rewarding opportunities are often those approached with both an open mind and a healthy measure of caution.
My hope is that, regardless of our nationalities or political perspectives, we can appreciate the significance of a people looking toward the future with renewed expectations. After all, the opportunity to live in peace, provide for our families, and pursue a better tomorrow is something that transcends borders and unites us all.
And perhaps, for Venezuela, the most important chapter of its story is not the one it leaves behind, but the one its people have yet to write.
Brett Mikkelson
Founder, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama
Aeroméxico Will Resume Commercial Operations in Venezuela During the First Quarter of 2027
The damage caused by the twin earthquakes on June 24 in Venezuela forced the airline to adjust its operating schedule.
Aeroméxico will resume commercial operations in Venezuela during the first quarter of 2027. Aeroméxico Group has rescheduled the resumption of its commercial operations between Mexico City and Caracas for the first quarter of next year, according to its CEO, Andrés Conesa, during the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum.
The company had planned to reactivate the direct route to Maiquetía International Airport in October, but the damage caused by the twin earthquakes on June 24 in Venezuela forced it to adjust its operating schedule.
Conesa emphasized that the airline is ready to resume connectivity “very soon,” specifying that flights from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) will be operated using Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Venezuela’s Power Grid Recovery Will Cost $40 Billion, According to Industry Association
The recovery of Venezuela’s electricity system requires an investment of up to $40 billion and a “master plan” that could extend over 10 years, following more than a decade of underinvestment, the Venezuelan Association of Electrical, Mechanical Engineering and Related Professions (Aviem) estimated on Wednesday.
The plan could take “between 5 and 10 years, with an estimated capital injection of between $15 billion and $40 billion,” said Aviem President and engineer Gelvis Sequera, quoted in a press release in which he criticized the lack of transparency surrounding contracts recently signed by the country with private international power companies to restore the national electricity system.
Sequera warned that multilateral lending institutions and “serious investment” do not operate under schemes involving discretionary allocation of resources, but instead require transparent value engineering, strict compliance standards, and the active participation of professional associations in inspections.
He also warned about the marginalization of specialized technical expertise from bidding processes in the sector.
Aviem is an advisory organization that proposes technical solutions for the recovery and development of the National Electric System (SEN). According to its analysis of the country’s electricity grid, the severe crisis is caused by “congestion in transmission and transformation infrastructure.”
In its view, the definitive solution to the crisis requires the implementation of a “transparent master plan for the rehabilitation of substations, the recovery of backbone transmission lines, the restoration of fair wages” for workers, and “the restoration of arbitration and technical oversight by the country’s professional societies and associations.”
Venezuela’s Electricity System Recovery Will Cost $40 Billion, According to Industry Association
Venezuela has faced an electricity crisis for more than a decade, but blackouts have increased over the past year. The opposition and experts say the situation is the result of corruption and a lack of maintenance, while the government attributes the problem to sanctions, the El Niño climate phenomenon, and alleged acts of sabotage.
On October 9, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that approximately 7,400 megawatts of power would be added to the SEN in the medium term as part of agreements signed this year with U.S. company General Electric and Argentina’s Impsa.
The announcement came as the country experiences almost daily protests over power outages lasting up to 16 hours.
The Venezuelan government has signed various agreements as part of a process of opening the country to foreign investment, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States last January.
Chavismo and Opposition to Review Political Disqualifications in Venezuela
Chavismo and a sector of the opposition agreed on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) to review the Organic Law of the Office of the Comptroller General, specifically “matters related to the process of political disqualifications” in Venezuela, following the conclusion of their third round of dialogue, which began a week ago.
Both sides made the announcement at a time when the opposition has called for the political disqualification imposed on its leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, María Corina Machado, to be lifted. Machado has been outside Venezuela since December of last year and is seeking to return to her country to lead a transition in the event of a presidential election.
The participants in the dialogue also agreed to “begin a thorough review process of various legal instruments,” including the Political Parties Law, in order to “guarantee the participation of all actors” and “strengthen democracy,” according to opposition delegation leader Dinorah Figuera.
They also proposed reviewing the Simón Bolívar Law, approved in 2024 by the Parliament, which is presided over by Jorge Rodríguez, the lead negotiator for Chavismo. The law provides for prison sentences ranging from 25 to 30 years, substantial fines, and up to 60 years of political disqualification for those who promote sanctions against the government.
Dialogue to Continue in November
Following the conclusion of this third round of dialogue, Jorge Rodríguez announced that the next talks will take place between November 11 and 15.
The parties also agreed to review the definition and classification of terrorism under the Organic Law Against Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing.
The crime of terrorism was charged against a large number of people following the 2024 presidential election, who were accused of vandalism and violence and labeled terrorists by then-Attorney General Tarek William Saab amid a post-election crisis.
That year, attorney Joel García told EFE that detainees were “equally” charged with terrorism, but that their individual conduct was not specified. This, the lawyer added at the time, violated one of the basic principles of law, which establishes that criminal responsibility is individual.
García also said that the terrorism accusation was “a systematic and widespread pattern” against the population opposed to the government then led by Nicolás Maduro, who was proclaimed the winner of the 2024 presidential election by an electoral authority controlled by officials aligned with Chavismo and which did not publish the detailed results, as required by its own electoral schedule.
Venezuela and UN Examine Strategic Partnerships to Strengthen Healthcare System
The participants also discussed coordinating these actions with the strategic partnerships previously established with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), aimed at financing public health-related projects.
Representatives of the Venezuelan Government and the United Nations held a meeting to examine new strategies aimed at strengthening the healthcare system and developing international cooperation mechanisms in the sector.
The meeting between Venezuelan Health Minister Carlos Alvarado and the UN Resident Coordinator in Venezuela, Álvaro Rodríguez, held on Wednesday, October 21, was intended to assess areas of work aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of healthcare services in the South American country.
Among those attending were the Director of International Affairs of the health authority, Amanda Abreu; the representative of the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Rondón; and the head of the Health Cluster, Magda Magris.
During the meeting, the parties reviewed various technical guidelines and cooperation mechanisms related to programs currently under development. These initiatives also have institutional support and diplomatic assistance for their implementation.
The participants also discussed coordinating these actions with the strategic partnerships previously established with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), aimed at financing public health-related projects.
The meeting followed up on efforts undertaken by Venezuelan health authorities with international organizations and regional financial institutions, including a meeting held days earlier with CAF representative Andrea Rousset.
According to a post by the Ministry of People’s Power for Health on Instagram, “this institutional dialogue reaffirms the national government’s commitment to building strong partnerships that guarantee the well-being and social protection of citizens, promoting governance based on multilateral cooperation and solidarity-based integration.”
Venezuela: PDVSA Workers Launch Strike Over $5 Weekly Wages
The Fetraenergía union warned that the work stoppage could expand nationwide.
Active and retired workers of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) launched a strike in Zulia state, one of the country’s main oil-producing areas, to denounce low wages, breaches of collective bargaining agreements, and problems related to pension funds and healthcare services.
The protests took place on Monday, October 19, along the Eastern Shore of Lake Maracaibo and at state-owned company facilities in Maracaibo. Demonstrators reported that some workers receive compensation equivalent to $5 per week, a situation that prompted the suspension of certain operational activities.
Iván Freites, representative of the Energy Workers’ Front (Fetraenergía), confirmed the sit-down strike and questioned the wage conditions that, according to the union, affect employees in Venezuela’s oil industry.
The union leader stated that the reported wages violate Article 91 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which establishes provisions related to the right to a sufficient wage.
The mobilization comes as the Venezuelan Government announces new agreements and investments for the development of the hydrocarbon industry, amid which workers are demanding greater attention to their labor conditions.
PDVSA Strike Reaches Oil Facilities in Zulia
The work stoppage is concentrated along the Eastern Shore of Lake Maracaibo and in Maracaibo, two areas linked to Venezuela’s oil industry.
Workers adopted a sit-down strike as a form of protest against the wages and working conditions they have denounced.
According to local reports, employees of the Water Operations Management division halted activities at the Tía Juana pier, where PDV Marina workers reported that vessels remained inactive as part of the protest.
The demonstrations also included gatherings outside PDVSA’s administrative and operational facilities in Zulia state.
Freites warned that the regional protest could develop into a broader mobilization if workers’ demands are not addressed.
The Fetraenergía representative raised the possibility of launching a nationwide oil workers’ strike, although it has not been confirmed that the work stoppage has spread to all of the company’s operations.
The available information also does not establish the total number of workers participating in the action or quantify its impact on national oil production.
Workers Report $5-a-Week Wages
One of the union’s main grievances concerns the wage levels of PDVSA employees.
Freites reported that some workers receive approximately $5 per week, an amount he considers incompatible with the labor obligations established under Venezuelan law.
Fetraenergía also stated that some workers’ monthly incomes may be around $80, according to information received by the union organization.
These figures are based on allegations by the union and do not constitute an officially verified salary scale for all employees of the oil company.
The union also questions the lack of effective recognition of overtime, bonuses, and other benefits provided for under collective bargaining agreements.
Among its demands is the restoration of the conditions established in collective agreements and improved compensation for workers in the industry.
Demonstrators are also demanding adjustments to certain employment-related payments and a review of the mechanisms used to calculate their wages.
Retirees Demand Restoration of Pension Funds and Healthcare Services
The protest also involves retired PDVSA workers, who are demanding compliance with commitments related to their pension funds.
Demonstrators reported alleged irregularities in the management of resources allocated to retirement and requested explanations regarding the handling of these funds.
Fetraenergía also criticized the elimination of healthcare services that, according to the union, previously benefited workers, retirees, and their families.
The demands include the restoration of medical care, payment of outstanding benefits, and reinstatement of labor and social conditions.
In the case of retirees, the demands include a review of the resources accumulated in the pension fund and clarification of amounts they consider to be outstanding.
These allegations were made by workers and union representatives; the published information does not include the findings of an investigation confirming the alleged irregularities.
Union Denounces Wage Disparities Within the Oil Industry
Fetraenergía also questioned the differences between the working conditions of PDVSA employees and those reportedly received by workers at other oil companies with foreign capital participation.
The organization maintains that while some state-owned company workers receive low wages, other employees in the sector have access to considerably higher financial benefits.
Among the examples cited by the union are bonuses that could reach $600, food-supply programs, and insurance coverage of up to $100,000.
These figures were presented by Fetraenergía as part of its allegations regarding disparities within the energy industry.
The union called for an investigation into the causes of these inequalities and a review of the employment conditions applied to oil workers.
It also proposed that foreign companies operating in Venezuela adopt salary standards that would improve employee compensation.
The organization maintains that expanding investment in hydrocarbons should be accompanied by better employment conditions and compliance with contractual commitments.
Protests Coincide with Oil Investment Announcements in Venezuela
The strike is taking place amid official announcements regarding investments, business agreements, and projects aimed at expanding Venezuela’s oil and gas activities.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez recently reported that the country had signed 61 agreements related to oil and gas.
She also stated that the projects underway could generate approximately 320,000 jobs, according to estimates released by the Government.
These announcements are part of initiatives aimed at boosting activity in the hydrocarbon sector and attracting business participation.
However, labor organizations maintain that the wages and benefits of PDVSA workers require attention as part of this process.
The work stoppage in Zulia introduces a labor dispute in a region of importance to Venezuela’s oil industry, while announcements of expanded operations and new energy agreements continue.
As of the information reviewed, no official response from PDVSA to the union’s demands or confirmed estimate of production losses associated with the strike had been identified.
