María Corina Machado's Washington Visit and US Policy on Venezuela

Machado's Diplomatic Mission in Washington

• 🇻🇪 Opposition leader María Corina Machado visited Washington DC, expressing gratitude to President Trump and his administration for their support.
• 🤝 Her meetings at the White House were described as courteous and respectful, though the extent of stronger US backing for her leadership bid remains unclear.
• 🗣️ Machado stated that the process for Venezuela is complex and delicate, emphasizing the courage of the US in its actions.

US Policy and Oil Deals

• 🇺🇸 The US administration has not yet outlined a timeline for elections in Venezuela.
• 🛢️ Instead, the US is proceeding with major oil deals with the current government led by Delcy Rodríguez.
• 🤔 Past US assessments questioned Machado's ability to gain broad domestic support, potentially influencing current policy.

CIA Director's Visit to Caracas

• 🕵️ CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a significant visit to Venezuela to meet with Delcy Rodríguez, the first cabinet-level official to do so since Nicolás Maduro's capture.
• 🤝 The meeting aimed to lay groundwork for a potential working relationship, signaling US openness to future economic cooperation.
• ⚠️ A key message delivered was that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for drug traffickers.
• 📈 The visit suggests the US administration is betting on a continued relationship with Rodríguez and highlights the deep involvement of US intelligence in Venezuela.

US Control Over Venezuelan Oil

• 🚢 US forces have been observed seizing oil tankers linked to Venezuela.
• 🗣️ President Trump has previously stated that the US would control Venezuela's oil reserves and the country itself.