Overview
- Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin pressed the U.S. in late December to avoid military action and to provide a negotiated exit for Nicolás Maduro, according to documents cited by the Washington Post.
- The Holy See said disclosures about the confidential exchange were disappointing and did not accurately reflect the conversation.
- Russia prepared an asylum offer with security guarantees, and intermediaries also explored relocation to Turkey and other channels, but Maduro repeatedly rejected leaving Venezuela.
- Roughly a week later, U.S. Special Operations forces seized Maduro and Cilia Flores in Caracas and flew them to New York, where both pleaded not guilty to drug‑trafficking charges.
- U.S. planning shifted toward working with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who has moved to consolidate authority and agreed to limited prisoner releases and a resumption of Venezuelan oil exports to the United States.