Lula and Petro embody two divergent currents of the Latin American left. Lula, the pragmatic socialist, has built his third presidency around stabilising Brazil and restoring its global credibility. Lula, along with the very moderate Gabriel Boric of Chile, represent a reformist left that seeks to endure by accommodating markets and moderates. For Washington, Maduro’s removal would be tempting to frame as the end of Latin America’s socialist experiment. Without a unified right, Petro’s left could once again claim the advantage, even as his administration struggles with dwindling popularity and escalating unrest.