Operation Absolute Resolve and  China’s Takeaways: A Conversation with Ryan Berg and Evan Ellis

Operation Absolute Resolve and China’s Takeaways: A Conversation with Ryan Berg and Evan Ellis

From ChinaPower by CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

January 15, 2026 · 40 min

About this episode

Ryan Berg and Evan Ellis discuss the implications of the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro and China's military planning in response.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Ryan Berg and Evan Ellis join us to assess the regional and global implications of the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. They discuss how Beijing is interpreting the operation, what it signals about U.S. priorities, and the lessons China may draw for its military planning and approach to Taiwan. Ryan Berg is director of the Americas Program and head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at CSIS. Evan Ellis is a research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute and a nonresident senior associate in the Americas Program at CSIS.

People in this episode

Guests: Ryan Berg, Evan Ellis

Topics covered

  • U.S. foreign policy
  • China's military strategy
  • Venezuela
  • Taiwan
  • U.S.-China relations
  • Nicolas Maduro

Keywords

  • U.S. capture
  • Nicolas Maduro
  • China
  • military planning
  • Taiwan
  • regional implications
  • global implications

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CSIS, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute

Places: Venezuela, Taiwan

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