CIA Director Holds Two-Hour Meeting with New Venezuelan Leader in Caracas
Historic Meeting Between CIA Director and Venezuela's Interim President
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas, following guidance from President Trump. The two-hour meeting aimed to build trust and communication after the recent capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States nearly two weeks ago.
Ratcliffe and Rodríguez discussed potential economic cooperation, emphasizing that "Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America’s adversaries." This meeting coincided with Rodríguez's first state-of-the-nation address, where she announced reforms in the oil industry to attract more foreign investment—a departure from Maduro's policies.
In her speech, Rodríguez asserted that she is not afraid to confront the United States “diplomatically through political dialogue,” adding that Venezuela must defend its “dignity and honor.” President Donald Trump stated that American oil companies would enter Venezuela, generating funds that would benefit both the Venezuelan population and that of the U.S. A senior official claimed that the United States would control the sales of sanctioned Venezuelan oil “indefinitely.”
Rodríguez, a former vice president, took office on January 5, after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are now held in New York, charged with drug trafficking and other offenses. An American official described the meeting between Rodríguez and Ratcliffe as “historic,” noting that Ratcliffe was the first ministerial-level official to visit Venezuela.
In her speech, Rodríguez proposed to reform the country’s hydrocarbon legislation, requesting the legislative body to approve it. Until now, Venezuelan law required foreign partners to collaborate with the national oil and gas company, PDVSA, which must hold a majority stake. The reforms would enable the attraction of investments in new fields.
Venezuela is undergoing a severe economic crisis, with skyrocketing food prices and a lack of purchasing power. Before the operation to capture Maduro, Venezuelans expressed concerns to the BBC about food security.
Rodríguez emphasized that “all of Venezuela is threatened” and called for national unity to “wage the diplomatic battle.”
