Richard Grenell He spent six hours negotiating with the team of Nicolás Maduro. Not one more minute or one less. He Navy Seal He had only two tasks that he managed to fulfill: the release of a group of Americans detained in Venezuela, and agree with the government the acceptance of the Venezuelan repatriation flights in irregular migratory conditions and, on the other hand, those who have been identified as alleged members of the Aragua train. Maduro requested in return the global lifting of the sanctions, which was not accepted.
However, there would be a maintenance of the state of the license 41 that allows Chevron to operate in Venezuelain the same terms that Joe Biden’s management left. This is an automatic renewal every first day, for a period of six months (this license is renewed for a period of six months to have a accommodation period in case of not being completely renewed).
Grenelll, special envoy from the United States Government for hostage situation in Venezuela and North Korea, was the one who requested the meeting, said sources from the high government that participated in the meeting on Friday, January 31 and in previous preparatory meetings.
Those same officials, who participated in the negotiations, said that the meeting only the migratory issue and the release of the Americans were discussed.
They did not talk about the opposition
Although Grenelll did not meet with representatives of democratic forces in Venezuela, a virtual meeting with Caracas did have a virtual meeting with Caracas with Caracas Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machadowhich passed without major fuss. Subsequently, apparently from the Jet that took him back to the United States, he spoke with Machado. The political leader confirmed both conversations.
The American traveled on a US Air Force plane and was accompanied by another Trump government official, whose name and position was not revealed.
“The theme of the opposition was never touched. I could assure you that Grenelll until he showed disdain for the subjectand left Venezuela without talking with any opposition member. They learned that I was here by CNN, ”said a source close to the Maduro government.
The visit of the high American diplomat took many by surprise, but Chavismo resumed negotiations with him since December, when Grenelll was designated by Trump. From there, his tweet on January 20, the day of taking possession of the US president. In that message on social network X, the official wrote in English: diplomacy is back. I have spoken with several officers in Venezuela today. We will start the meetings early.
Maduro and Grenelll’s meeting was the first high -level meeting between the United States and Venezuela after Trump’s possession.
How the meeting between Maduro and Grenell was reached
At the meeting on Friday, January 31, in the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Palacio de Miraflores was not the Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello. Two government sources linked to the meeting argued that the first vice president of the PSUV was going through a family issue.
The negotiations that began in December, always according to the negotiators, were headed by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, under the strict supervision and authorization of Maduro.
People released by Grenell’s efforts had been pointed out in different speechs by Diosdado Cabello as part of a terrorist conspiracy and planning magnicides against Maduro and the vice president of the Cy Rodríguez.
Before skepticism about the version for the absence of hair, one of the officials consulted for this note said: “It is unbelievable because they do not realize that we are human. And we are more united than ever. So united that saying that Diosdado has a family issue is not a ISSUE For us ”.
What did Chavism ask?
Two government sources who participated in the conversations affirm that the negotiation concentrated on the migration issue, the deportation of Venezuelans (and, in particular, members of the Aragua train) and in a global agreement for the lifting of the sanctions.
One of the Chavista officials made it clear that “it is false that they forced us to accept the flights, we were willing to receive them and did not press us.” A source that was in the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Miraflores Palace described the conversation as “affable and cordial.”
Another negotiator is more cautious and argues that “it gives the impression that Trump’s officials have another plan for Venezuela other than the ‘maximum pressure’ repetition, but I am still sure that this is so. Time will say. ”
When discussed about the Global sanctions lifting agreementor what Maduro then called the zero agenda; And Venezuela’s economy, the special envoy said briefly that “the sanctions did not work.”
According to The Washington PostGrenell’s trip was the first time in more than a decade than a United States Air Force aircraft led a senior government official in that country to Caracas.
Who are the Americans released?
In a photograph published by Grenelll with six citizens there are four who wear blue sportswear, which are one of the uniforms for inmates in Venezuela, while there are two that are with another dress.
The official subsequently explained to the journalist Megyn Kelly that these last two changed them at the last minute, since those who were on the original list refused to follow the instructions of Maduro government officials because they believed they were cheating them.
According to the Criminal Forum Organization, the American released are David Estrella, nurse David Guttenberg Guillaume, Aaron Barret Logan, Eric Auther, Gregory David Werber and Samuel Batista.
What did Chavism linked them
While Chavismo sources say that some of those released were citizens without documents, at least four of them – the ones who had blue uniforms – were linked to conspiracy activities by the Venezuelan government. In September and October, in different spells, the Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello, told Estrella, Guttenberg, Barret Logan and Werber to be involved in a conspiracy.
According to the Venezuelan authorities, Barret Logan was a specialist in hacking and had photographs of the agencies that he was going to hack. Werber was linked to the mission of cybernetically sabotectically sabotecting Venezuela’s technological structure, while Guttenberg Guillaume identified him as paramedic. They pointed out that their mission was to help in case it had injured within the framework of terrorist actions.
For his part, David Estrella, 62, is a New York they arrested when he entered Venezuela by the Earth’s border in the West. The authorities linked him together with Navy SealWilbert Castañeda, two citizens of Spanish nationality and one of Czech nationality of a great conspiracy.
About Star, the AP agency reported that the last time you had news of it was in September 2024, when “he was about to take a taxi from Colombia to Venezuela with a bag of perfumes, clothing and shoes to give friends who He made on a previous trip. ”
Old acquaintances
Grenelll – special language of the Trump administration for Venezuela and North Korea – is an old acquaintance of some Maduro officials. In particular, by Jorge Rodríguez.
In September 2020, the head of Parliament met with Grenelll, in secret, in Mexico City, according to the journalist Joshua Goodman of the AP agency. At that meeting, which never confirmed Chavismo, the exchange of eight American prisoners-two who participated in the bankrupt “Operation Gideon”-, by the Colombian-Venezuelan businessman and current Minister of Industries and National Production, Alex Saab , whom they arrested in 2020, in Cabo Verde.
Grenelll was one of the architects of that meeting, although later denied that an exchange of prisoners be discussed.
Chavismo spokesmen say that Jorge Rodríguez attended Mexico strictly with the then Foreign Minister Felix Plascencia.
“That meeting in Mexico City was relatively short and without consequences, because throughout Trump’s mandate the policy of ‘maximum pressure and break’ was imposed; It had no effect for us, ”said the source.
However, in December 2023, under the negotiation of Roger Carstens, the greatest exchange of American prisoners in Venezuela would occur, by the great file of Alex Saab.
Grenell was ambassador to Germany between 2018 and 2020 and, despite Trump’s war against the LGBTI+movement and his speech against sexual diversity, he is openly gay, defender of American supremacist policy and is an evangelical Protestant. It has its own company, Capitol Media Partners, specialized in the resolution of complex cases. Grenelll and his partners always have an Airous Departure for their clients, among which Hollywood Arab and stars stand out as Ryan Gosling.
“I’ll come back”
After serving his mission, Grenell said he will return to Venezuela.
He mentioned that there were about 12 hostages and that possibly when they were in the country they located a couple more. In the conversation with Maduro, he revealed, that he showed that the people indicated by alleged conspiracies to kill the ruler or the vice president of the Cy Rodríguez (accusations that Minister Cabello made at the time) were innocent and “deserve to be at home.”
Grenelll said that the negotiation focused on six of the prisoners, and that agreement was reached. However, then it would be known that two of them refused to follow the instructions of the Venezuelan authorities – to bathe and prepare for the departure – so that the government placed two more Americans and delivered them.
Some Americans who remain imprisoned
Although you do not have all the names of Americans imprisoned in Venezuela, according to public data the following people are detained:
Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gómezformer Navy Seal. It served 15 years in the Navy Special Forces. They point out of being the leader of the conspiracy and having entered the country to fulfill espionage work. According to his mother’s statements, Petra went to Venezuela to visit the bride.
Jonathan Pagán González. Minister Cabello said that I arrested him at the Rafael Urdaneta bridge, in the west of Venezuela, which was mission to infiltrate religious groups. The official said that behind him was a powerful group of the Zulia state.
Jorge Marcelo Vargas. The authorities reported that he was arrested for taking pictures of the refineries. Cabello said it is “rare for a tourist to take those photos.” “That was for terrorist attacks,” he warned.
For its part, Criminal Forum also identifies Joseph Saint Claire and Lucas Hunter, as well as residents (Green Card) Renzo Yasir Huamachumo and Fabián Reyes.
In several of the cases stated, it was indicated that the Americans had some relationship with Venezuelan women. Cabello showed in October 2024 and three of the citizens and on different opportunities has caught attention to such links.
Grenell stressed that his work will consist of demonstrating to Venezuelan authorities that detainees are innocent. Asked by Megyn Kelly for your program on YouTube, she said she will definitely return to Venezuela.
The request of Chavismo
In this mission that carried out precisely, he said that the only thing he gave in return was his consent to go publicly next to Maduro, which contributes to the Venezuelan propaganda. However, Chavismo has not been characterized by giving something without having any compensation. Maintaining the current state of things is already gain for Maduro.
Grenelll’s task, meanwhile, seems to be halfway, making it clear that he will return to Venezuela for the six Americans who remain in the country. This without forgetting the repatriation flights of agreed Venezuelans, which will begin to run in less than two months.
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