Trump Hosts María Corina Machado as U.S. Advances Talks With Interim Leader Delcy Rodríguez

Overview

• María Corina Machado met President Donald Trump at the White House for a private lunch, later saying she gifted him her Nobel Peace Prize medal.
• On the same day, Delcy Rodríguez dispatched envoy Felix Plasencia to Washington as she consolidates contacts with the U.S. following a positive Trump–Rodríguez call on oil, minerals, trade and security.
• The U.S. seized a sixth Venezuelan oil tanker, and, according to AFP, confirmed the first sale of seized Venezuelan crude valued at roughly $500 million with proceeds directed to U.S. Treasury-controlled accounts.
• Venezuela has begun releasing detainees, including at least one U.S. citizen, with additional political prisoners freed in recent days while human-rights groups say many remain jailed.
• A new Quaest poll found 58% of Brazilians fear a U.S.-style action in Brazil while 46% approve of the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro.