Show Notes
On this episode, Garrison takes a deep dive into the view from Venezuela with the deeply knowledgable Ivan Briscoe, Program Director for Latin America and the Caribbean from the International Crisis Group. The two discuss the current state of Venezuelan affairs, tracing the counters of the rivalry between Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido with their respective claims to the Presidency. Is Juan Guaido losing his sense of legitimacy in the eyes of the opposition forces and the general public? They discuss the failed effort by the Trump administration to topple the Maduro regime, the after-effects of that attempt, and the present outlook for the Venezuelan economy, particular its oil economy and its interactions with China and Iran. They discuss the declining influence of American sanctions, and the condition of the multi-million Venezuelan refugee community inside neighboring Columbia. Briscoe considers the possibility of a Russian build up in the Latin American region with Venezuela as a possible area of focus. And they close by talking through what policies the United States should change in relation to the regional situation in both Columbia and Venezuela. Ivan Briscoe joined Crisis Group in June 2016 as Program Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. He has worked on Latin American politics, conflict and crime since 1996. Before joining Crisis Group, Ivan worked as a senior research fellow in the Clingendael Institute of the Netherlands and in the Foundation for International Relations and Foreign Dialogue (FRIDE) in Spain, where he specialized in the study of illicit networks in Latin America, new forms of armed violence and the effects of inequality. Prior to that, he worked for over a decade as a journalist and editor in Argentina, France and Spain, where he edited the English edition of El Paнs. He has carried out fieldwork-based research in various Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, and has written for numerous media in the region and in Europe. He graduated from Oxford University with a First Class Honour’s Degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, studied as a Frank Knox Fellow at Harvard University, and also holds a Master’s Degree in Development from the Complutense University of Madrid. Garrison Moratto is the founder and host of The New Diplomatist Podcast; he earned a M.S. of International Relations as well as a B.S. in Government: Public Administration (Summa Cum Laude) at Liberty University in the United States. All guest opinions are their own and not that of The New Diplomatist podcast formally. If you enjoyed the episode please subscribe and leave a review for feedback. Follow The New Diplomatist on social media for latest updates. Thank you for listening.
More from The New Diplomatist
Today on the show, Garrison is joined by Alexander Gray, former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council and currently the CEO of American Global Strategies. Gray briefs listeners on the Trump administration's Hemispheric Defense from Greenland to Venezuela, its significance in light of global security dynamics, and how it reflects a broader pivot in American grand strategy. Gray lays out his interpretation of these developments and what it means for the future of GOP foreign policy priorities in 2028 and beyond.
In this episode, Garrison is once again joined by Dr. Collin Koh, senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies at RSIS in Singapore. The two discuss the meteoric naval buildup of China's Navy, and its efforts to improve professionalism and integration in its naval forces. This comes amidst the backdrop of the U.S. Navy's increasingly demanding role in the Middle East and questions about America's focus on the Pacific theater of operations. They also discuss Japan's return to military hard power as a security contributor for Southeast Asia, and its deepening defense cooperation with Australia. The discussion concludes with a review of Dr. Koh's recent article in CNA explaining why Malacca is not the Hormuz when it comes to naval security, and why manned surface ships will keep navies relevant in the age of drones. Dr Collin Koh is senior fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies which is a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, based in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He has research interests on maritime security and naval affairs in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on Southeast Asia. Collin has published several op-eds, policy- and academic journal articles as well as chapters for edited volumes covering his research areas. He has also taught at Singapore Armed Forces professional military education and training courses. Besides research and teaching, Collin also contributes his perspectives to various local and international media outlets, and participates in activities with geopolitical risks consultancies. Garrison Moratto is the founder and host of The New Diplomatist Podcast; he earned a M.S. of International Relations as well as a B.S. in Government: Public Administration (Summa Cum Laude) at Liberty University in the United States. He has been published in RealClearDefense, and Pacific Forum International's "Issues & Insights", among other publications. He is the author of Distant Shores on Substack. Guest opinions are their own. All music licensed via UppBeat. Episode recorded on Aug. 19th, 2026
In this episode, Garrison is joined by Dr. Wess Mitchell, who serves as cofounder and principal at The Marathon Initiative, and who also served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs during the first Trump administration. The two discuss Mitchell's brand new book "Great Power Diplomacy: The Skill of Statecraft from Attila the Hun to Kissinger." They discuss the historic scope, perennial meaning, and vital importance of rediscovering the great tradition of statecraft, and deep dive the example of Otto von Bismarck. They also discuss the efforts of the current Trump administration to serve as peacemakers in this era of great power rivalry. You can purchase Great Power Diplomacy from Princeton University Press, or wherever books are sold.
In this episode, Garrison is joined by Dr. Emma Ashford, a Senior Fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center. The two discuss Dr. Ashford’s new book, “First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy In A Multipolar World.” The discussion touches upon the end of the Unipolar Moment, the emerging schools of thought on the future of American power, “unbalanced multipolarity,” the argument for free trade, and what a realist internationalism approach means for American involvement in Europe and the Middle East, as well as great power relations with China, India, and Russia.
Greg Lawson is a realist thinker, a history buff, and a geopolitical analyst. He joins the podcast to discuss the legacy and meaning of former Secretary of State, the late Dr. Henry Kissinger, as well as the problem of Russia, and the urgency of China.