Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes Caracas, Venezuela Please submit all media inquiries to pgunson@crisisgroup.org or call +57 60 1 256 5769 ext 101 or +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role As Andes Project Senior Analyst, Phil researches and produces Crisis Group policy materials and conducts advocacy on political issues in the Andes region, focusing primarily on the Venezuelan political situation. He has spent almost 40 years reporting on Latin America for a wide variety of news media, including the BBC World Service, The Guardian, Newsweek, The Miami Herald and The Economist. In the 1980s he covered the wars in Central America, and in the late 1990s he was Latin America correspondent for The Guardian, based in Mexico City. He has coauthored two books on the region, including a two-volume political dictionary of Latin America and the Caribbean. Areas of Expertise Venezuela Conflict resolution Latin America politics Professional Background Consultant, International Crisis Group (2012-2015) Correspondent, The Economist (2000-2015) MA in English literature Cambridge University University Degree Languages English (native) Spanish (fluent) In The News 31 May 2021 Maduro is very isolated internationally. It's hard for him to trade. He can't renegotiate the massive debt that Venezuela has. So he needs some relief. NPR Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes 7 Dec 2020 Unless he [Guaidó] is able to reinvent himself in some way, I think the Guaidó plan has clearly failed. The Guardian Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes 11 Aug 2020 [Venezuela's] health service had collapsed long before sanctions were imposed. Foreign Policy Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes 7 Jul 2020 [The Venezuelan Government] want[s] to make it quite clear that Guaidó is history. Minneapolis Star Tribune Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes 12 Apr 2020 If there's mass social unrest [in Venezuela] they are not really in a position to control it and I think that's the government's nightmare scenario. BBC News Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes 4 Apr 2020 What the [Venezuelan] regime is facing now is much more grave than they’ve ever faced before. BloombergQuint Phil Gunson Senior Analyst, Andes Latest Updates Commentary / Latin America & Caribbean 26 April 2022 The Struggle for Supremacy in Venezuela Hugo Chavez's charisma fuelled his revolution in Venezuela, but as Crisis Group expert Phil Gunson explains in this photo essay, part of a larger project on deadly violence in Latin America, part of his legacy is also rising crime and hunger. Podcast / Global 19 March 2022 The Fallout from Ukraine: Iran Talks Stalled; U.S. Woos Caracas? In this week’s Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood is joined by Crisis Group’s Iran expert Naysan Rafati and Venezuela expert Phil Gunson to discuss the Ukraine war’s global repercussions. Commentary / Latin America & Caribbean 16 March 2022 A Twist in Caracas: Is a Venezuela-U.S. Reboot on the Cards? High-ranking U.S. officials made a surprise trip to Venezuela’s capital, hinting at efforts to improve bilateral relations and end the standoff between the Maduro government and its opponents. The backdrop is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which just might be changing strategic calculations an ocean away. Also available in Español Op-Ed / Latin America & Caribbean 1 March 2022 Venezuela’s Crisis Could Be Another Casualty of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Originally published in World Politics Review Commentary / Latin America & Caribbean 30 August 2021 Venezuela: Making the Most of the Mexican Breakthrough A fresh series of talks to address Venezuela’s profound political crisis are afoot in Mexico City. The discussions will likely be long and cumbersome, but there is space for partial and early agreements that could improve everyday life for Venezuelans. Also available in Español Load more