US Intelligence Chief Meets Venezuela's Interim President in Historic Visit
In a significant development, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez in the capital city of Caracas on Thursday. The two-hour meeting was described by a US official as "historic" and marked the first time a Cabinet-level official had visited Venezuela since the US military operation that ousted President Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago.
During the meeting, Ratcliffe conveyed a warning to Rodríguez that Venezuela must stop supporting drug trafficking, saying that the country can no longer be a safe haven for America's adversaries, particularly narcotraffickers. The official also stated that Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration with Rodríguez.
The visit comes as President Trump met with opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on the same day. While Trump has publicly praised Machado, the administration appears to view Rodríguez as more capable of maintaining stability in Venezuela in the near term, according to a CIA analytic assessment.
The US intelligence chief's visit reflects his commitment to being less risk-averse in his leadership style, as he promised during his Senate confirmation hearings last year. The trip also follows months of preparation by the CIA, including building a replica of Maduro's compound and studying his daily habits.
In August, the CIA had a small team operating clandestinely on the ground in Venezuela, laying the groundwork for Maduro's capture. The US military operation involved dismantling and disabling Venezuela's air defense systems as US military helicopters neared Caracas. Maduro was subsequently apprehended along with his wife, Cilia Flores, and brought to the US to face charges.
The meeting between Ratcliffe and Rodríguez has raised concerns over the US's unilateral action to abduct Maduro, which some have described as a potential violation of international law. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner has expressed concern over the US's actions, saying they represent a grave, manifest, and deliberate violation of fundamental principles of international law.
The visit also underscores the complex web of relationships between the US, Venezuela, and its opposition leaders. As tensions in the region continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Rodríguez will navigate the delicate balance of power in Venezuela and whether she can maintain stability in the country.
In a significant development, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez in the capital city of Caracas on Thursday. The two-hour meeting was described by a US official as "historic" and marked the first time a Cabinet-level official had visited Venezuela since the US military operation that ousted President Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago.
During the meeting, Ratcliffe conveyed a warning to Rodríguez that Venezuela must stop supporting drug trafficking, saying that the country can no longer be a safe haven for America's adversaries, particularly narcotraffickers. The official also stated that Ratcliffe discussed potential opportunities for economic collaboration with Rodríguez.
The visit comes as President Trump met with opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on the same day. While Trump has publicly praised Machado, the administration appears to view Rodríguez as more capable of maintaining stability in Venezuela in the near term, according to a CIA analytic assessment.
The US intelligence chief's visit reflects his commitment to being less risk-averse in his leadership style, as he promised during his Senate confirmation hearings last year. The trip also follows months of preparation by the CIA, including building a replica of Maduro's compound and studying his daily habits.
In August, the CIA had a small team operating clandestinely on the ground in Venezuela, laying the groundwork for Maduro's capture. The US military operation involved dismantling and disabling Venezuela's air defense systems as US military helicopters neared Caracas. Maduro was subsequently apprehended along with his wife, Cilia Flores, and brought to the US to face charges.
The meeting between Ratcliffe and Rodríguez has raised concerns over the US's unilateral action to abduct Maduro, which some have described as a potential violation of international law. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner has expressed concern over the US's actions, saying they represent a grave, manifest, and deliberate violation of fundamental principles of international law.
The visit also underscores the complex web of relationships between the US, Venezuela, and its opposition leaders. As tensions in the region continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Rodríguez will navigate the delicate balance of power in Venezuela and whether she can maintain stability in the country.
thinking about what kinda vibes ratcliffe and rodriquez are gonna bring to the table! 
hope they come up with some solid economic collab ideas, venezuela def needs it 
. I mean, who gets taken away by the military just like that? It's not like a normal coup where you have some kind of democratic process going on. And then they send someone to meet with this new interim president without even discussing it with everyone involved first... it just doesn't seem very stable or transparent to me 
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. We should be talking about how we can help Rodríguez find her own way and make decisions for Venezuela, rather than trying to dictate what she does from afar 
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I mean, Trump is all over Machado one minute, and then Ratcliffe is chillin' with Rodríguez the next? What's up with that? And what's with this "historic" meeting between CIA Dir and Venezuela's interim president? Did they just order a bunch of pizza and watch Netflix or something? 
I swear, US politics are like a real-life game of Risk. Anyway, I guess it's good that Rodríguez is trying to keep the peace, but can she really handle all this drama on her own?
! Can't believe what's happening with Venezuela... It's like a whole new ball game now that Maduro's out. But, I mean, it's interesting to see how this all plays out. What's gonna happen next? Will Rodríguez be able to keep the peace and stability in Caracas or is there another shoe waiting to drop? 
didnt they expect Maduro to just get away w/ it? now theres this huge power vacuum and suddenly theyre like 'oh hey, can we be friends?' 
. And now this meeting between Ratcliffe and Rodríguez is raising even more questions about Venezuela's future 
. The thing is, no one really knows what's going on in that country anymore 
I'm so glad to hear that there's someone who's stepping up to help with this crisis in Venezuela... like, Delcy Rodríguez seems like a really strong woman and I'm rooting for her 
. It's crazy how much pressure she must be under right now, trying to keep the country stable. And it's interesting that the US is being more proactive about finding ways to help... I hope it makes a difference 
. Have you been following this story at all? How do you think things will play out in Venezuela? 
. And what about the UN Human Rights Office's concerns? They're just trying to cover their own tracks, if you ask me. The US is just trying to create chaos in Venezuela while they're waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Mark my words, this is all part of some larger game 
its crazy to think that now CIA director is literally meeting with his successor 
maybe delcy will be able to turn things around and bring some stability back to venezuela 
This meeting is historic 'cause it's the first time a Cabinet-level official visits Venezuela since the US military op was like two weeks ago 
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. I hope Rodríguez can pull it off 'cause Venezuela needs stability ASAP 
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, everybody's got their eyes on each other, tryin to make moves before they get checkmated 