Venezuela's Interim Government Releases Remaining U.S. Detainees Amid Diplomatic Thaw
The U.S. Embassy in Bogotá confirmed late Friday that all known American citizens detained in Venezuela have been released by the country's interim authorities. The announcement signals a potential de-escalation in long-strained bilateral relations.
"We can confirm the release of all known U.S. citizens held in Venezuela by the interim authorities," the embassy stated via social media. "We continue to urge any individuals with information about other possible detainees to contact American Citizen Services immediately."
While details regarding the number and identities of those released remain undisclosed, the move follows weeks of gradual prisoner releases since the extradition of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife to New York, where they face federal narco-terrorism charges.
The development occurs against a backdrop of sweeping policy changes under Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice president. Rodríguez's administration has moved rapidly to overhaul Venezuela's economic framework, most notably signing legislation this week to privatize segments of the state-dominated oil industry—a stark reversal of two decades of socialist policy.
Earlier this month, the interim government reported over 100 prisoner releases, though independent verification remains partial. Concurrently, a limited U.S. diplomatic presence has returned to Caracas to explore resuming formal relations, severed since 2019.
Despite these diplomatic overtures, the U.S. State Department maintains its highest-level travel advisory for Venezuela, citing a "fluid and unpredictable" security situation and urging American citizens to depart immediately via available commercial flights.
The geopolitical shift has attracted international economic interest. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested American energy firms could invest up to $100 billion to revitalize Venezuela's crippled oil infrastructure, aiming to restore production to historic levels.
Reaction & Analysis
Michael Thorne, Senior Fellow at the Council of the Americas: "This is a calculated confidence-building measure. Releasing detainees removes a immediate irritant, allowing both sides to focus on the substantive negotiations ahead, particularly regarding energy and sanctions relief."
Elena Marquez, Caracas-based political analyst: "For the interim government, this is about legitimacy. Demonstrating adherence to basic diplomatic norms is crucial for gaining international recognition and unlocking economic cooperation, especially in the oil sector."
Rep. James Culver (R-TX): "This is a naive celebration of a regime change we engineered. We're applauding them for stopping hostage diplomacy they started! Until we see free elections and the complete dismantling of the Maduro apparatus, this is just a PR move by a different face of the same oppressive system."
Sarah Chen, former U.S. diplomat and negotiation advisor: "The prisoner release is a necessary first step, but the road ahead is fraught. Trust is nonexistent. The success of any diplomatic or economic initiative will hinge on verifiable, sustained actions from Caracas, not just symbolic gestures."