As The United States government continues to push to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from office, activists gathered at the Venezuela Embassy in Washington, DC, to prevent it from being taken by representatives for Opposition Leader Juan Guaido.

This comes as the well-known and well-funded DC-based think tank that represents some of the most powerful state and corporate interest in the world, the Atlantic Council, held a special session to discuss the future of Venezuela.

The meeting included a speech from U.S. Special Envoy to Venezuela, Elliot Abrams. In his address, he laid out of a number of promises for the Venezuelan people if they overthrow their current elected government.

“Imagine a Venezuela where there are no blackouts and clean water pours out of the tap. Imagine a Venezuela where eggs are no longer a luxury, but part of the diet of all families. Imagine a Venezuela with 5G internet and no government censorship,” Abrams said.

Abrams did not make it clear how he plans to make all of those promises become a reality, but he did say that there are a number of international investors ready to pour their resources into Venezuela’s economy.

This claim lines up with recent reports, citing confidential documents, which have revealed that the Inter-American Development Bank plans to give Venezuela more than $48 Billion in capital—but only if Nicolas Maduro is removed from office.

U.S. officials who support the overthrow of Maduro in Venezuela have repeatedly said the “All options are on the table.”

While Abrams did not give specific details, he did warn that the people of Venezuela need to be prepared for things to get worse, before they get better.

“So what is standing between the people of Venezuela and that future? What is stopping the beginning of rebuilding and reconciliation? Some questions are hard. That one is easy. The short answer is ‘Nicolas Maduro,’” Abrams said.

Tensions have also continued to increase here at the Venezuelan embassy, where the State Department told diplomatic staff that they had two weeks to leave the building.

That deadline was last night, and for the last two weeks, several activists have been living at the embassy, and occupying it for the country’s elected government.

Also last night, police began to increase their presence around the embassy last night, and the activists and journalists who were at the embassy reported seeing Secret Service agents conducting surveillance and taking photos.

One journalist who was stayed overnight said that at least one officer was spotted on the embassy’s porch around 4:30am this morning, but he did not attempt to enter.

While Secret Service agents were seen patrolling the area, and keeping an eye on the building, they did not ask anyone to leave, or attempt to arrest any of the activists or journalists on the scene, during the day on Thursday.

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