CIA director was in Venezuela to meet with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, official says

CIA Director John Ratcliffewas in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas Thursday to meet with acting President Delcy Rodríguez and other top officials, a U.S. 

The meeting unfolded about two weeks after the Trump administrationcarried out a military operationcapturing Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. 

A U.S.official told Reuters Ratcliffe met with Rodriguez under the direction of PresidentDonald Trump“to deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship.” 

Read More → US hostages in Iran face heightened risk as protests spread, experts say number held may exceed estimates

The two discussed intelligence sharing, economic stability and the need to guarantee that Venezuela is no longer a “safe haven for America’s adversaries, especially narco-traffickers,”Reuters added.

Read More → Sleep patterns could predict risk for dementia, cancer and stroke, study suggests

TRUMP SIGNALS LONG ROAD AHEAD IN VENEZUELA IN HIS BOLDEST INTERVENTIONIST MOVE YET

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez meets CIA Director John Ratcliffe.(CIA)

On Wednesday, Trump said he had a call with Rodríguez and later described her as a “terrific” person. 

Read More → Amazon adds controversial AI facial recognition to Ring

“This morning I had a very good call with the Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez.We are making tremendous progress, as wehelp Venezuela stabilize and recover,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. 

MARIA CORINA MACHADO DETAILS GIFTING TRUMP NOBEL PEACE PRIZE DURING WHITE HOUSE VISIT

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, left, and Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez.(Leah Millis/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

“Many topics were discussed, including Oil, Minerals, Trade and, of course, National Security.This partnership between the United States of America and Venezuela will be a spectacular one FOR ALL.Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again, perhaps more so than ever before!” 

CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan.15, 2026.(CIA)

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

Read More → McDonald’s customer caught on camera launching flying kick at employee during heated brawl

The same day, Rodríguez announced her government will continue to release prisoners detained under the rule of Maduro in an initiative she touted as a “new political moment,” according to The Associated Press. 

�s Diana Stancey and Bonny Chu contributed to this report.