CIA director John Ratcliffe meets with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas to discuss improving U.S.-Venezuela relations and warned against Venezuela's support for drug trafficking.
- Ratcliffe's visit marked the first by a U.S. Cabinet-level official since the recent U.S. military operation aimed at removing Nicolás Maduro from power.
- The U.S. administration appears to view Rodríguez, a Maduro ally, as better suited to maintain short-term stability in Venezuela compared to opposition leader María Corina Machado, whom President Trump publicly supports.
- The CIA had been preparing for Maduro's capture for months, including clandestine operations on the ground, culminating in a U.S. military raid on Jan. 3 that resulted in Maduro's apprehension
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