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CIA director meets Venezuela's interim president in Caracas
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas on Thursday, marking the first visit by a U.S. cabinet-level official since Nicolás Maduro's removal, a U.S. official confirmed.
The two-hour discussion, held at President Donald Trump's direction, focused on establishing trust and communication following Maduro's detention by U.S. forces on January 3. According to the official, the talks addressed potential economic cooperation and Venezuela's role as a potential safe haven for U.S. adversaries.
Rodríguez outlines reforms in state address
The meeting coincided with Rodríguez's first state of the union address since assuming office. She announced sweeping reforms to Venezuela's oil industry, aiming to attract foreign investment-a sharp departure from Maduro's policies.
In her speech, Rodríguez emphasized Venezuela's sovereignty, stating she was prepared to engage with the U.S. diplomatically but would not compromise the nation's dignity. "We must defend our independence, territorial integrity, and honor," she said, adding she would travel to Washington "on my own feet, not dragged there."
Oil industry overhaul and economic challenges
Rodríguez proposed changes to Venezuela's hydrocarbon law, which currently requires foreign firms to partner with state-owned PDVSA as a majority stakeholder. The reforms would allow direct investment in new oil fields, a move U.S. officials and investors have long sought.
She also announced plans for two sovereign funds: one for social protection, directing foreign currency to hospitals, schools, and food programs, and another for infrastructure, including water, electricity, and roads. Venezuela's economic crisis has left many struggling with inflation and food shortages, with citizens telling the BBC they fear for their next meal.
U.S. eyes Venezuela's oil reserves
President Trump has signaled strong interest in Venezuela's oil sector, the world's largest proven reserves. He urged U.S. oil companies to invest at least $100 billion in the country, though executives have described Venezuela as "uninvestable" under current conditions.
Trump asserted that U.S. firms would control Venezuelan oil sales "indefinitely," bypassing local authorities. "You're dealing with us directly," he said at a White House meeting with oil executives last week. He also suggested the arrangement could lower global energy prices.
Diplomatic tensions and next steps
The same day as Ratcliffe's visit, Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado in Washington, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. Meanwhile, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain detained in New York, facing drug trafficking charges.
Rodríguez acknowledged the difficulty of delivering Maduro's annual report, revealing they had been working on the speech together until hours before his seizure. She called for national unity to navigate the diplomatic challenges ahead, warning that "all of Venezuela is threatened."
"We have to go together as Venezuelans to defend sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and also defend our dignity and our honor."
Delcy Rodríguez, Interim President of Venezuela
