WASHINGTON D.C. / CARACAS – January 15, 2026 – In a stunning pivot that has left diplomats and regional analysts reeling, President Donald Trump has signaled a potential “truce” with the remnants of the Venezuelan government. Following a marathon phone call on Wednesday with Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Trump praised the successor to the deposed Nicolás Maduro, suggesting a new era of cooperation centered on the release of political prisoners and the stabilization of the oil-rich nation.1
The call marks the first direct high-level contact since the January 3 “extraction” of Maduro by U.S. forces, an operation that initially signaled Washington’s intent to completely “run” the country.2 Instead, Trump appears to be opting for a pragmatic—if controversial—partnership with the Maduro loyalist now holding the reins in Caracas.3
“A Terrific Person”: Trump’s Oval Office Endorsement
Speaking from the Oval Office late Wednesday, President Trump described his conversation with Rodríguez as “long, productive, and very courteous.”4
-
Praise for Rodríguez: “We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters. “She’s somebody that we’ve worked with very well. I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela.”
-
Oil Diplomacy: Trump hinted that the “tremendous progress” made during the call would pave the way for a “renaissance” of the Venezuelan economy, specifically focusing on revitalizing the country’s oil sector with U.S. investment.
-
Sidelining the Opposition: Notably, the President’s warm words for Rodríguez come just as he has reportedly sidelined traditional opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado, preferring to deal directly with the “de facto” authorities who can guarantee immediate stability.5
The “Gesture for Peace”: 406 Prisoners Released
The warming of relations follows a series of concrete steps taken by the Rodríguez administration to satisfy Washington’s demands.
-
Mass Releases: On Wednesday, Rodríguez announced that 406 political prisoners have been released to date.6 This group includes high-profile activists, journalists, and at least four U.S. nationals who had been detained under the Maduro regime.
-
A “New Political Moment”: Flanked by her brother, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, the Acting President declared that Venezuela is “opening up to a new political era” characterized by ideological diversity and a break from the “repressive rule” of the past decade.7
-
Human Rights Caution: While the U.S. State Department welcomed the releases as an “important step in the right direction,” NGOs like Foro Penal remain skeptical, noting that nearly 800 political prisoners remain in custody and that those released are often barred from speaking publicly.8
Strategic Ambiguity: Control vs. Cooperation
Analysts are debating whether this “truce” is a sign of a more flexible U.S. foreign policy or a strategic maneuver to secure oil assets without a prolonged military occupation.
| Aspect | Current U.S. Stance |
| Leadership | Recognizing Delcy Rodríguez as Acting President (Interim). |
| Sanctions | Exploring “selective relief” to facilitate oil exports. |
| Military | Canceling a rumored “second wave” of attacks due to prisoner releases. |
| End Goal | A “judicious transition” that protects U.S. energy interests. |
“Trump is playing a game of ‘maximum pressure’ followed by ‘maximum praise,'” said Dr. Ricardo Hausmann, a regional economic expert. “By validating Rodríguez, he secures a partner who knows where the oil valves are, even if it means keeping the old power structure largely intact.”
The Road Ahead
The situation remains volatile. While the “Venezuela Strike” removed the figurehead of the Chavista movement, the underlying infrastructure remains. Today’s “truce” suggests that Washington is willing to trade total regime change for immediate stability and economic access.
As Rodríguez vied to prove her government’s commitment to “peace,” all eyes turn to the White House today, where Trump is scheduled to meet with María Corina Machado. How he balances his praise for Rodríguez with the demands of the pro-democracy opposition will determine if this truce is a lasting peace or a brief intermission in a larger conflict.
700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822
