Trump Seeks New Ties With Venezuela After Madulo capturing

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, in Caracas on Thursday. This meeting marks the highest-level U.S. contact since President Donald Trump ordered an attack on Venezuela on January 3. The operation led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

The meeting shows Washington’s effort to reset relations with Caracas after the military action earlier this year.

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Opposition Leader Meets Trump in Washington

On the same day, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met President Trump at the White House. During the visit, she gave Trump a medal she received after winning the Nobel Peace Prize last year. Trump has publicly admired the award in the past.

Machado later described the meeting as excellent. She is expected to speak to reporters on Friday at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. Trump thanked her on social media and called the gesture a sign of mutual respect.

Tensions Continue as Talks Focus on Cooperation

In Caracas, Rodríguez appeared to criticize Machado during her first State of the Union address. She said any visit she might make to Washington would be done with dignity and confidence.

A U.S. official said Ratcliffe met Rodríguez on Trump’s instructions. He delivered a message that the United States wants a better working relationship. They discussed intelligence sharing, economic stability, and efforts to stop drug trafficking. U.S. officials stressed that the recent attack and its impact on Venezuelans remain a serious issue.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez