The special envoy of the United States to Venezuela, Richard Grenell, shared a photograph on social media with some Americans inside an airplane, expressing his gratitude to Donald Trump after speaking with him. Without revealing the identities of the citizens, Grenell informed that the mission in Venezuela aimed primarily at the release of American citizens detained in Venezuelan jails and negotiating the acceptance of deportation flights for undocumented migrants by Caracas.
According to the organization Independent Venezuelan American Citizens (IVAC), based in Miami, up to eight American citizens were remaining under arrest in Venezuela, most since 2024. Following the meeting between Maduro and Grenell at the Miraflores Palace, the Venezuelan Administration communicated that one of the topics discussed was the situation of detained American citizens, in addition to addressing migration issues and the impact of sanctions.
In a statement, Caracas expressed its willingness to keep diplomatic channels open with the U.S. and proposed the possibility of starting a new agenda in bilateral relations. The president of Parliament and Maduro's negotiator, Jorge Rodríguez, was also present at the meeting along with the flags of Venezuela and the United States. Maduro proposed the construction of a "zero agenda for a new beginning" in relations between the two countries, which have been broken since 2019.
In another context, Trump highlighted that he would not allow the purchase of Venezuelan oil, in contrast to his predecessor Joe Biden, who issued licenses to foreign companies, including Chevron, to operate in Venezuela. The releases occurred after Grenell's visit to Caracas and his meeting with Maduro, and the American citizens were escorted back to their country along with the special envoy.
The return of the released American citizens is part of the search for a new phase in relations between Venezuela and the United States, with the release of prisoners as a gesture of détente and openness to cooperation between both nations.
