Overview
- A U.S. diplomatic team visited Caracas on January 9 to begin work toward reopening the embassy that has been closed since 2019, according to the State Department.
- Venezuela’s interim government said it will send a delegation to the United States to pursue restoration of diplomatic relations.
- President Trump said he halted a planned “second wave” attack, calling it unnecessary, and he praised recent political prisoner releases and cooperation on energy.
- At a White House meeting with executives from 17 oil companies, Trump floated roughly $100 billion in potential investment and pledged security assurances, while firms signaled caution and noted only Chevron is currently operating in Venezuela among major U.S. companies.
- Trump said the United States worked with the interim government to seize a tanker that left Venezuela without authorization and plans to sell its oil through a U.S.-involved transaction.