Colombia, the US, and the Future of Latin America: An Evening with President Iván Duque

Why It Matters

Duque’s endorsement of the U.S. operation and his call for elections and army reform underscore a pivotal moment for Venezuelan democracy, while Colombia’s refugee integration blueprint provides a replicable path for regional stability and economic growth.

Key Takeaways

• Duque hailed US-led removal of Maduro as moral necessity.
• Emphasized humanitarian intervention over military invasion narrative as essential.
• Stressed need for stabilization, recovery, transition in Venezuela.
• Highlighted Colombia’s successful refugee integration policies as regional model.
• Calls for free elections and army reform to secure Venezuela’s future.

Summary

The Brown University event featured former Colombian President Iván Duque reflecting on the recent U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Duque framed the removal as a moral imperative, describing it as a precision humanitarian intervention rather than a conventional invasion, and praised the bipartisan U.S. effort that culminated in the January 2026 raid. Duque outlined three pillars for Venezuela’s post‑Maduro trajectory: stabilization, economic recovery, and a political transition that culminates in free, fair elections and a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s bloated military hierarchy. He warned that without reforming the 3,000‑strong general staff, criminal networks will persist, undermining any democratic gains. “Maduro was a dictator; his removal was a moral necessity,” Duque asserted, adding that the operation was “flawless militarily” yet still a “humanitarian intervention.” He also highlighted Colombia’s own experience, noting that its temporary‑protection‑status framework and inclusive integration policies have become a global benchmark for managing the three‑million Venezuelan refugees who arrived during his tenure. The discussion signals a potential shift in U.S. policy toward more direct actions in Latin America, while Colombia’s refugee model offers a template for other host nations. The success of stabilization and electoral reforms in Venezuela will shape regional security, investment flows, and the broader narrative of democratic resilience in the Western Hemisphere.

Original Description

Join former Colombian President Iván Duque for a conversation on the current situation between the United States and Latin America. Topics will range from the recent events regarding Venezuela, the strained relations between President Trump and Colombia’s current leadership, and the changing political dynamics in the hemisphere and globally. This event is part of the Dean’s Fireside Chat Series at the Watson School, and is co-sponsored by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS).

Iván Duque Márquez served as President of Colombia from 2018-2022, during which time he oversaw the country’s response to COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent challenges. Campaigning under the theme of “legality, entrepreneurship, and equality,” other issues he focused on during his tenure include human migration, higher education, environmental protection, infrastructure, and drug-related crime.

Duque’s public career began as an advisor at the Colombian Ministry of Finance in 2000, where he served in Washington, DC as Colombia’s senior advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) between 2001 and 2010. He took a brief absence to join the panel investigating the Israeli incursion of the ship Mavi Marmara, and then returned to the IDB as head of the Culture, Creativity, and Solidarity Division from 2011 to 2013.

He served as senator from 2014-2018, where he promoted five laws on the extension of maternity leave, promotion of electric mobility, availability of defibrillators in public places, creation and promotion of the figure of BIC companies (Benefit of Collective Interest), and promotion of creative industries (Orange Law). He resigned his seat in the Senate to devote himself to the presidential campaign.

Duque is the author of several books including Monetary Sins (2007); Machiavelli in Colombia (2010); Orange Effect (2015); IndignAction (2017); The Future Is at the Center (2018); Archaeology of My Father (2018); Humanism Matters (2019); and Road to Zero (2021). He co-authored two books on the creative economy with Felipe Buitrago, which include The Orange Economy: An Infinite Opportunity (Inter-American Development Bank, 2013); and Orange Economy: An Infinite Reality (Ministry of Culture of Colombia, 2021).