Overview
- President Donald Trump said he canceled a planned second wave of attacks on Venezuela, crediting cooperation from Caracas after the release of a large number of detainees.
- Venezuelan authorities freed opposition figures including Enrique Márquez and activist Rocío San Miguel as well as five Spanish nationals, while officials in Caracas called the move a unilateral gesture and insisted the country is not subordinate to the United States.
- At a White House meeting with energy firms, Trump promised “total security,” said Washington will choose which companies can operate and that deals would be done with the U.S. government, citing potential investments of at least $100 billion as ExxonMobil’s chief warned current conditions make investment “impossible.”
- Trump said Venezuelan authorities will hand over 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, and maritime data showed Chevron-chartered tankers carrying Venezuelan crude toward U.S. ports.
- U.S. diplomats arrived in Caracas for exploratory talks on restoring ties, senators advanced a resolution to constrain presidential military powers on Venezuela, and a Venezuelan minister claimed the U.S. operation caused about 100 deaths.