Historic Meeting: CIA Director Meets Venezuela's New Interim President

Sat Jan 17 2026 06:47:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

CIA Director John Ratcliffe engages in a pivotal two-hour discussion with interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, aimed at fostering trust and navigating U.S.-Venezuela relations post-Maduro.

In a significant diplomatic move, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Delcy Rodríguez, newly appointed interim President of Venezuela, in Caracas for a two-hour discussion. This meeting marks a turning point in U.S.-Venezuela relations following the recent confiscation of former leader Nicolás Maduro. The discussions covered potential economic collaboration and strategies to prevent Venezuela from becoming a stronghold for U.S. adversaries. Rodríguez, in her first address as interim president, introduced reforms in the oil sector to attract foreign investment while asserting her commitment to defending the nation's sovereignty.

CIA director John Ratcliffe met Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas on Thursday at President Trump's direction, a US official has said.

The two-hour meeting was aimed at building trust and communication following the US seizure of Venezuela's former president Nicolás Maduro almost two weeks ago.

Ratcliffe and Rodríguez discussed potential economic collaboration and that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America's adversaries, according to the US official.

The meeting took place on the same day Rodríguez gave her first state of the union address since taking over as interim president, where she announced oil industry reforms to allow more foreign investment - a move away from Maduro's policies.

During her speech to the nation, Rodríguez said she was not afraid to face the US diplomatically through political dialogue, adding Venezuela had to defend its dignity and honour.

President Donald Trump has indicated that US oil companies will tap into Venezuelan oil, claiming it will benefit both nations economically. He has urged these companies to invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela, though industry executives have expressed concerns about the current state of the country being uninvestable.

Rodríguez's appointment came after US forces detained Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in New York following serious drug trafficking charges. The meeting is being considered historic as Ratcliffe became the first cabinet-level official to visit Venezuela.

As Rodríguez put forth proposals for oil reforms, she emphasized the necessity for national unity to face diplomatic challenges and strive for a sovereign Venezuela, underscoring that she is willing to engage directly with US officials if needed.