Overview
- In a pre-taped state TV interview, Nicolás Maduro said Venezuela is ready to negotiate a serious counter-narcotics agreement and accept U.S. oil investment similar to Chevron’s operations.
- Pressed on reports of a CIA-led drone strike on a Venezuelan docking area, Maduro neither confirmed nor denied it, saying the topic could be discussed in a few days.
- The Trump administration reports 35 strikes on suspected drug boats since September with at least 115 killed, and has also seized sanctioned oil tankers as operations expanded into the eastern Pacific.
- Venezuela announced the release of 88 additional detainees from post-election protests, bringing claimed releases to 187 over two weeks, though local NGOs say many political prisoners remain.
- U.S. media report Venezuelan security forces have detained several Americans in recent months, with officials weighing wrongful-detention designations for at least two, including traveler James Luckey-Lange.