Top U.S. Military Chief Makes First Official Visit to Caracas Post-Maduro Capture

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, arrived in Caracas for his first official visit to Venezuela, a significant diplomatic move occurring five months after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. This historic deployment signifies a major shift in the geopolitical and military landscape of the country.

During his visit, Gen. Caine engaged in high-level bilateral discussions with senior leaders of Venezuela's interim government and U.S. Embassy personnel. According to a statement from U.S. Army Colonel Joe Holstead, spokesperson for the Joint Staff, the discussions focused on strengthening ties and addressing key issues. Gen. Caine also inspected the U.S. Marine Corps Security Augmentation Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

This visit coincides with the absence of Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, who is on a state tour in India. Gen. Caine's trip follows earlier visits by U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. Francis Donovan, who has made two operational visits since Maduro's capture on January 3. Donovan recently led an air evacuation and emergency drill at the U.S. Embassy on May 23.

The renewed engagement between Washington and Caracas is part of the formal re-establishment of bilateral relations, which were severed nearly seven years ago. The rapprochement is guided by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which has indicated a role in overseeing Venezuela's oil sector. In response to this oversight and White House pressure, Rodríguez's interim government has expedited reforms to hydrocarbon and mining laws, aiming to liberalize these sectors and attract foreign investment.