U.S. Reengages Venezuela as Delcy Rodríguez Leads Interim Government

Overview

• A U.S. delegation arrived in Caracas to assess reopening the long‑shuttered embassy as both governments move to restore formal relations.
• U.S. officials signaled potential easing of economic sanctions and explored unlocking nearly $5 billion in IMF Special Drawing Rights, alongside mechanisms to route Venezuelan oil proceeds into U.S.-controlled accounts.
• President Donald Trump said 30 million Venezuelan barrels are headed to U.S. terminals and touted major investment, though oil executives did not confirm his $100 billion figure; ExxonMobil called the country “uninvestable,” while Chevron reaffirmed interest.
• The Justice Department softened past language on the ‘Cartel de Los Soles’ but kept narcoterrorism conspiracy charges against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, with Maduro held at MDC Brooklyn.
• Press repression persisted with detentions of reporters at Delcy Rodríguez’s swearing‑in and at border points, and only nine political prisoners were freed despite broader promises, even as the DEA posted a $25 million reward for Diosdado Cabello.