U.S. and Venezuela Hold High-Level Talks Post-Military Operation
Twelve days after a U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a visit to Venezuela on Thursday. He met with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez and other top officials.
The two-hour discussion aimed to pave the way for ongoing communication and to establish measures for building trust, according to U.S. officials. Ratcliffe emphasized that Venezuela must cease its support for drug trafficking organizations like Torren de Aragua.
“At President Trump’s direction, Secretary Ratcliffe traveled to Venezuela, meeting with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez to convey the United States’ desire for better cooperation,” said a U.S. official. The discussions also covered potential collaboration in intelligence activities and ensuring Venezuela no longer serves as a safe haven for U.S. adversaries, especially drug traffickers.
Images from his visit to Caracas depict Ratcliffe shaking hands with Rodriguez and General Gustavo Enrique González López, the new head of Venezuela’s presidential honor guard. López has a controversial past as Maduro’s torturer, a detail highlighted by local news reports.
Before the January 3 military action, the CIA had been gathering information on Maduro, which was provided to the U.S. Army Delta Force unit that executed the operation.
Ratcliffe’s visit coincided with President Trump meeting Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado at the White House, as well as a phone call with Rodriguez a day prior.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump stated that the U.S. is “making great strides” in efforts to stabilize and restore Venezuela, which has been under a socialist dictatorship for over two decades. He also praised Rodriguez as an “amazing” individual.
Machado, who presented Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday, aimed to step into a leadership role following Maduro’s removal; however, Trump expressed doubt about her having sufficient backing to assume power.
