President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had a respectful discussion on issues of immigration, sanctions and Americans detained in the South American country, according to a Venezuelan government statement issued after their meeting Friday in Caracas.
The meeting at the presidential palace in the Venezuelan capital comes amid increased efforts by President Trump's administration to deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, which has sparked reactions in Latin America.
After meeting with Mr. Maduro, US diplomat Richard Grenell said they are returning to the United States with six Americans released by Venezuelan authorities.
Relations between the two countries have been tense recently due to US sanctions on Caracas and accusations of a coup.
But the two countries have common interests on several issues, including a license that allows U.S. oil company Chevron CVX.N to operate in Venezuela.
"The meeting was held with mutual respect and during it various issues of interest to both countries were discussed: immigration, the negative impact of economic sanctions on Venezuela, US citizens involved in crimes within (Venezuelan) territory, and the integrity of the Venezuelan political system," the Venezuelan government said, adding that the meeting agreed on the need to open a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
Mr. Grenell’s visit does not mean that the United States recognizes Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said earlier Friday. She said Mr. Grenell was focused on securing the return of 400 detained members of the “Tren de Aragua” gang to Venezuela and the release of all American detainees in Venezuela.
Mr. Grenell, President Trump's envoy for special missions, previously said that he had spoken with several different Venezuelan officials and that he would begin meetings, a few days after the previous administration of President Biden imposed new sanctions on the Maduro government.
“Diplomacy is back,” Mr. Grenell said in a post on the X network, announcing the talks with Venezuelan officials. “Talks are a tactic.”
During the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump called Mr. Maduro a dictator. During his first term, President Trump undertook a “maximum pressure” campaign against Mr. Maduro, including harsh sanctions on Venezuela and that country’s oil industry.
After taking power, President Biden lifted some of the restrictions imposed by President Trump's administration following electoral promises by Mr. Maduro, but then reinstated them, saying that the Venezuelan leader had not kept promises of fair and democratic elections.
The Financial Times reported on Friday that Chevron is trying to defend the special US license that allows it to operate in Venezuela.
The oil company's chief executive, Mike Wirth, told the newspaper that Chevron would engage with the White House after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the license should be reviewed.
If Chevron is forced to leave, China and Russia will have influence in the OPEC member country, Mr. Wirth said.
Last year, Venezuelan oil exports to the United States increased by 64%, or about 220,000 barrels per day, making America the second largest export market after China, which imports 351,000 barrels per day, 18% less than a year earlier. VOA (A2 Televizion)
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