Trump Hosts Venezuela’s Machado as Rodríguez Sends Envoy to Washington and U.S. Logs First Sale of Seized Oil

Overview

• María Corina Machado met Trump for a private White House lunch with no official photos, later saying she gifted him her Nobel medal, which the Norwegian Nobel Institute notes cannot be transferred.
• Interim president Delcy Rodríguez sent envoy Félix Plasencia to Washington the same day, after a cordial call in which both sides cited discussions on oil, minerals, commerce and security.
• U.S. authorities reported the first sale of seized Venezuelan crude at roughly $500 million and announced the seizure of a sixth sanctions-hit tanker in the Caribbean.
• Venezuelan officials claim 406 political detainees have been freed since December, while the NGO Foro Penal counts 72 releases since Jan. 8, including journalist-activists Roland Carreño and Nicmer Evans.
• Brazil’s debate broadened as a Quaest poll showed 46% approval of the U.S. action in Venezuela and 58% fearing a similar move in Brazil, while the foreign minister defended Brasília’s condemnation of the operation.