Overview
- John Ratcliffe met interim president Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas on Thursday in the highest-ranking U.S. visit since U.S. forces seized Nicolás Maduro.
- U.S. officials said President Trump sent Ratcliffe to convey that Washington expects a more productive working relationship with Rodríguez.
- Talks focused on intelligence cooperation, economic stabilization efforts, and ending Venezuela’s role as a safe haven for adversaries, especially drug traffickers.
- The visit coincided with Trump’s separate meeting with opposition leader María Corina Machado, underscoring competing bids for U.S. support within Venezuela.
- Washington has emphasized short‑term stability after Maduro’s removal, with U.S. intelligence portraying Rodríguez as a pragmatic partner for maintaining security and infrastructure.