Richard Grenelll, special envoy of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, plans to meet this Friday (31.01.2025) in Venezuela with Nicolás Maduro, who swore on January 10 for a third term after his questioned re -election, according to television reported US.
“Diplomacy has returned,” Grenell said in an X post that reveals his initial calls. “Talking is a tactic.” Trump said last week that his administration would probably stop buying oil from Venezuela and that he was looking “very strongly” to the South American country. On the visit, Republican congressman Rick Scott said on social networks that he expects Trump’s envoy for special missions to demand the return of “kidnapped” Americans in that country. He also said that Maduro’s government “recovers thugs and gang members in our country.” The head of communication of the Venzolano government confirmed the meeting through Telegram.
During his campaign, Trump called Maduro a dictator after he undertook a “maximum pressure” campaign against him during his first term of 2017 to 2021, including the imposition of hard sanctions to the South American country and his oil industry. The former president Joe Biden briefly lifted some of the restrictions, but restored them claiming that Maduro breached his promises of free elections. Even recently the United States increased the reward for Maduro’s capture.
Financial Times reported today that Chevron is trying to keep the special license that allows him to operate in Venezuela. The executive director of the oil giant, Mike Wirth, told the newspaper that the company would communicate with the White House after Marco Rubio, Trump’s secretary of state, said the license should be reconsidered. If Chevron is forced to leave, China and Russia will gain influence on the OPEC nation, Wirth said.
LGC (RTR, EFE)
Updated with the confirmation of Freddy Ñáñez.
