U.S. Diplomats Arrive In Venezuela For ‘Initial Assessment’ Following Maduro’s Capture

A team of American diplomats arrived in Venezuela on Friday, marking the first time American officials have set foot in Caracas following the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to Colombia John McNamara traveled to Caracas alongside security personnel from the Venezuela Affairs Unit, which is also based in Colombia, “to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations,” CNN reported. President Donald Trump said last weekend that the United States would assume control of Venezuela for the foreseeable future after the U.S. military and law enforcement raided Maduro’s compound and took the Venezuelan dictator and his wife back to the United States to stand trial.

The State Department is visiting Caracas on Friday as the Trump administration seeks to reopen its embassy in the capital. The United States evacuated its embassy in Caracas in 2019 during the first Trump administration amid political upheaval and after Maduro ordered the American diplomats to leave the country.

The State Department visit comes shortly after President Trump said on Friday morning that the Venezuelan government cooperated with his request to release political prisoners. Trump said that he “cancelled” his plan to conduct a “second wave of attacks” on the country due to Venezuela’s cooperation.

After Maduro’s capture, Venezuela remains under the leadership of government officials who remain loyal to the socialist dictator. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has stood by Maduro since assuming the role, claiming that he remains the rightful leader of Venezuela. The socialist government continues to crack down on dissent and deployed paramilitary members to the streets of Caracas to search for Venezuelans who supported the U.S. raid.

Trump has not said exactly how long the United States will oversee Venezuela, but suggested earlier this week that American oversight of the South American country could last for years, The New York Times reported.

“We will rebuild it in a very profitable way. We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need,” Trump said.

The Trump administration plans to control the sales of Venezuelan oil and use it as “leverage” for reforming the country, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

“If we control the flow of oil, the sales of that oil, and the flow of the cash that comes from those sales, we have large leverage,” Wright said. “But without large leverage … you don’t get change.”

“This should be a wealthy, prosperous, peaceful energy powerhouse,” he added. “That’s the plan.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is taking a leading role in U.S. oversight of Venezuela, laid out parts of the Trump administration’s plan for the country. Rubio said on Wednesday that the priority is “the stabilization of the country.” Next, Rubio said that the United States would focus on rejuvenating the Venezuelan economy by “ensuring that American, Western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that’s fair.” Finally, the Secretary of State said that the Trump administration wants to see Venezuela rebuild its “civil society.”

Trump, Rubio, Wright, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are set to meet with executives from U.S. oil firms at the White House on Friday afternoon as American energy companies are expected to invest at least $100 billion to help rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry.