Qatari Prime Minister Visits Venezuela Amid Ongoing Tensions
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with members of Venezuela’s socialist government in Caracas on Wednesday, including the acting president, Delcy Rodriguez. His arrival on Tuesday marked him as the highest-ranking foreign official to visit the country since a U.S. law enforcement operation led to the arrest of deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, back on January 3. Upon arrival, Al-Thani was welcomed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil at Simón Bolívar International Airport.
Details regarding the purpose of Al-Thani’s visit remain publicly undisclosed. However, reports indicate that the visit is intended to enhance diplomatic ties between Qatar and Venezuela, focusing on a “work agenda.” There are hints that discussions may revolve around strengthening existing agreements.
On Wednesday, Al-Thani reportedly held meetings with Rodriguez and other officials at the Miraflores presidential palace. A Venezuelan newspaper mentioned that their discussions primarily involved a detailed evaluation of the Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement between the two nations.
In the wake of Maduro’s arrest, Qatar expressed its willingness to mediate between the U.S. and Venezuela, citing its experience in facilitating dialogue. Following the arrest, Rodriguez publicly thanked Al-Thani for his support in securing proof of survival for Maduro and Flores, who are currently awaiting trial on serious charges in a New York detention center.
Interestingly, Rodriguez had previously visited Qatar in April 2025 as vice president, aiming to lay the groundwork for potential technical and commercial exchanges—something possibly revisited during Al-Thani’s current trip.
Al-Thani’s visit comes amidst renewed alliances, with the new Qatari ambassador in Caracas reaffirming their cooperation, particularly in areas like energy and tourism, based on a roadmap outlined by Maduro. In 2022, Maduro had visited Doha to meet with Al-Thani, establishing an ongoing dialogue between the two leaders.
Under Rodriguez’s leadership following Maduro’s arrest, there has been noticeable cooperation with the U.S. The Venezuelan government has started benefiting from oil sales, with initial revenues being managed in a Qatari bank account controlled by the U.S. government until further arrangements could be made. Reports indicated that these oil proceeds are significant, especially given Venezuela’s debt to international companies, including ConocoPhillips.
Recently, U.S. Energy Secretary Christ Wright mentioned the shift in handling these oil revenues, stating that moving forward, funds would no longer be deposited in Qatari accounts but would go to the U.S. Treasury. Wright confirmed that the initial use of Qatari banks was to mitigate risks from Venezuelan creditors attempting to lay claim to those funds.
