Top U.S. Military Chief Visits Venezuela for Talks with Interim Government

The highest-ranking U.S. military official, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, made an official visit to Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday. This marks his first visit to the country and comes five months after the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Gen. Caine engaged in bilateral discussions with senior leaders of Venezuela's interim government, according to a statement from Joint Staff spokesperson Joe Holstead. He also visited the U.S. Embassy's Marine Security Guard Reinforcement Unit. The visit took place while Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, is on a visit to India. This diplomatic engagement follows the recent re-establishment of relations between Caracas and Washington on March 5, after a seven-year rupture initiated by Maduro. The U.S. military presence in Venezuela has seen other high-level visits, including two trips by Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Francis Donovan, after Maduro's capture on January 3. Donovan's last visit on May 23 involved a military emergency drill with two aircraft at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. These interactions between high-ranking U.S. officials and the Venezuelan interim government signal a significant shift in bilateral relations, occurring under pressure from the United States. President Donald Trump has previously stated his administration would take control of Venezuela's oil businesses. Rodríguez, facing considerable U.S. pressure, has been promoting reforms in hydrocarbon and mining laws to encourage foreign investment.

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participated in bilateral discussions with senior interim government leaders and U.S. Embassy leadership and staff. He also visited the…