So the indictment of Maduro and other top officials raises important strategic questions. Most fundamentally, how does it advance the Trump administration’s stated objective of a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela, which Pompeo’s framework aims to achieve?By Michael Camilleri. Full text -> Los Angeles Times

THE “DEMOCRATIC transition framework” for Venezuela laid out by the Trump administration this week was described by some as a compromise, since it proposes that both regime leader Nicolás Maduro and U.S.-backed opposition head Juan Guaidó give up their dueling claims to be president in favor of a transitional government in which the two sides would share power. By Editorial Board. Full text -> Washington Post

This is essentially the same proposal that was being discussed last summer as part of the Norwegian-mediated negotiations, with one big difference. Coming less than a week after indicting the heads of every major branch of the Maduro government, it would seem the Trump Administration is trying to hard-wire who they think should not be part of a transition. This was a main point of contention during last summer’s negotiations with the U.S. reluctant to endorse any transition plan that allowed Maduro to preside over new elections.By David Smilde and Dimitris Pantoulas. Full text -> WOLA