U.S. Begins Diplomatic Return to Caracas as Joint Tanker Seizure Marks Early Cooperation

Overview

• An American delegation arrived in Caracas to evaluate reopening the U.S. embassy, and Venezuela said it is beginning the process to restore diplomatic relations.
• Venezuela’s PDVSA announced a joint operation with the U.S. to redirect the tanker Minerva back to Venezuelan waters after it departed without authorization.
• President Trump pressed oil executives to commit large investments, but Exxon Mobil’s chief called Venezuela “not investible,” while Chevron indicated it could raise production under proper guarantees.
• U.S. prosecutors updated their case by describing the “Cartel de Los Soles” as a clientelist system tied to corruption rather than alleging Maduro led a formal cartel.
• Rights concerns persisted with reports of journalist detentions and tighter security, and death tolls from the operation ranged from dozens cited by agencies to more than 100 claimed by interim president Delcy Rodríguez.