President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a planned second wave of military attacks against Venezuela, attributing this decision to recent developments in the country’s political landscape. He noted that Venezuela has begun releasing a significant number of political prisoners, which he characterized as a gesture of goodwill and an indication of cooperation from the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace’,” and expressed optimism about ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and Venezuela regarding the reconstruction of the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure. He emphasized that while the second wave of attacks has been canceled, U.S. naval ships would remain stationed in the region for safety and security reasons.
The political prisoners released include various opposition figures, activists, and journalists, with notable names such as Biagio Pilieri and Enrique Márquez. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, described the releases as a broader attempt by the Bolivarian government to promote peace.
In conjunction with these developments, Trump indicated that American energy companies are poised to invest approximately $100 billion in Venezuela's oil sector. A meeting at the White House is scheduled to involve executives from multiple major U.S. oil firms, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, to discuss opportunities related to this investment. According to White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers, the initiative is expected to yield mutual benefits for American energy companies and the Venezuelan populace.