Trump Hails Call With Venezuela’s Interim Leader as White House Hosts Machado

Overview

• Trump said a long call with interim president Delcy Rodríguez was productive, citing discussions on oil, minerals, trade and security, while Rodríguez described a respectful bilateral agenda.
• The White House confirmed Donald Trump will host Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado for a lunch meeting on January 15.
• Venezuela plans to send envoy Félix Plasencia to Washington for talks with senior U.S. officials on the same day Machado visits, according to people familiar with the plans.
• Venezuelan authorities have begun releasing detainees, with the U.S. State Department reporting several Americans freed and local reports noting additional releases of journalists and activists.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced a February 3 meeting with Trump in the United States as both sides seek to ease tensions following the U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro.