The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
What is necessary to return Venezuela to stable economic growth and democracy after the US operation?
English Summary
Chatham House convenes experts to assess the path forward for Venezuela following the January 2026 US operation, arguing that while Washington has outlined a three-stage process toward stability, concrete plans for credible elections, rule of law, and economic recovery remain inadequate. The discussion draws on two recent Chatham House policy papers that identify specific benchmarks and priorities for democratic elections and legal institutional reform under the interim government. The implications are significant for US and multilateral strategy: sustaining post-intervention gains will require coordinated engagement among the interim Venezuelan government, international organizations, investors, and civil society to avoid a governance vacuum and ensure lasting democratic transition.
中文摘要
查塔姆研究所召集專家評估2026年1月美國軍事行動後委內瑞拉的前進道路，指出儘管華盛頓已勾勒出邁向穩定的三階段進程，但在可信選舉、法治建設及經濟復甦方面的具體計畫仍顯不足。討論援引查塔姆研究所近期發表的兩篇政策報告，針對臨時政府下的民主選舉與法律制度改革提出具體基準與優先事項。此議題對美國及多邊戰略具有重大意涵：維繫干預後的成果將需要臨時委內瑞拉政府、國際組織、投資者及公民社會之間的協調合作，以避免治理真空並確保持久的民主轉型。
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