Caracas, Venezuela – The head of U.S. Military operations in Latin America, Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, met with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, and key members of her cabinet in Caracas on Wednesday, . The hours-long visit signals a continuing, if cautious, dialogue between Washington and Caracas following the unprecedented U.S. Capture of President Nicolás Maduro weeks prior.
Both the Rodríguez government and U.S. Southern Command announced the meeting, with Rodríguez’s press office stating that Gen. Donovan held discussions with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The meeting took place against a backdrop of significant geopolitical upheaval following Maduro’s arrest and subsequent transfer to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.
According to a post on X from Rodríguez’s press office, the discussions centered on developing a bilateral cooperation agenda focused on combating illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, and migration. The statement emphasized the importance of diplomacy as a mechanism for resolving differences and addressing issues of mutual interest. “The meeting reaffirms that diplomacy should be the mechanism for resolving differences and addressing issues of binational and regional interest, of interest to all parties,” the post read.
Gen. Donovan was accompanied by Laura Dogu, the top U.S. Diplomat in Venezuela, and Joseph Humire, the U.S. Acting assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and the Americas. A readout from U.S. Southern Command indicated that the discussions also focused on security in Venezuela and the broader Western Hemisphere, as well as the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s phased plan for the country.
The meeting is the latest in a series of high-level engagements between U.S. Officials and the Venezuelan government since Maduro’s capture. Just two weeks after Maduro was removed from power, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Rodríguez. Last week, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also visited Caracas, conducting an assessment of Venezuela’s oil industry. These visits suggest a pragmatic approach by the Trump administration, seeking to stabilize the country and secure its vast energy resources despite the contentious circumstances of Maduro’s removal.
The U.S. Military operation that led to Maduro’s capture, described as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, has drawn both condemnation and support internationally. While some world leaders have criticized the action, others, including Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado, have welcomed it as a step towards restoring democracy. Machado has called for the installation of Edmundo González Urrutia, the winner of the last election, as president and commander-in-chief of Venezuela’s military.
However, experts caution that the transition of power will not be straightforward. As Shannon K. O’Neil, CFR senior vice president and director of studies, noted, “Maduro is gone but the repressive elements of the regime are still there and in control. It is a huge country, so it is hard to control territorially.” This suggests that despite Maduro’s removal, significant challenges remain in establishing a stable and democratic government in Venezuela.
The timing of Gen. Donovan’s visit also comes after Venezuela’s Maduro stated, on , that the country was open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking. This willingness to engage on counter-narcotics efforts may have paved the way for the recent discussions.
The U.S. Government, under President Trump, has framed the operation against Maduro as a law enforcement action targeting a “narcotrafficker” responsible for destabilizing the region. Ambassador Mike Waltz, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, stated that the operation was “a surgical law enforcement operation facilitated by the U.S. Military against two indicted fugitives of American justice.” He further emphasized that this was not an occupation, but rather the enforcement of existing indictments.
The implications of these developments extend beyond Venezuela’s borders. The country’s vast oil reserves are of significant strategic interest to the United States, and the Trump administration has indicated its intention to develop these resources with U.S. Energy companies. The situation also has broader regional implications, potentially impacting stability and security throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The focus on combating drug trafficking and terrorism suggests a U.S. Commitment to addressing these issues in the region, but the long-term success of these efforts will depend on the ability to establish a stable and legitimate government in Venezuela.
The meeting between Gen. Donovan and President Rodríguez represents a delicate balancing act for both countries. The U.S. Seeks to stabilize Venezuela and secure its interests, while the Rodríguez government aims to navigate a difficult transition period and maintain some degree of control. Whether this dialogue will lead to a lasting partnership or remain a temporary arrangement remains to be seen, but it underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in Venezuela and the wider region.
