US President Donald Trump announced on Jan 9 that he has scrapped plans for a “second wave” of military attacks on Venezuela, pointing to new cooperation from Caracas and recent releases of political prisoners as a de-escalation signal, Reuters reported.
Taking to social media, Trump said Venezuela’s gesture of freeing large numbers of detainees showed it was “seeking peace” and that both countries are now working together, especially on rebuilding the South American nation’s oil and gas infrastructure.
As a result, he said the additional attacks “will not be needed”, though US military ships will remain in place for “safety and security”.
The move marks a notable shift from earlier rhetoric after a recent US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a campaign that drew bipartisan scrutiny and spurred the Senate to advance a war powers resolution aimed at limiting future strikes.
Trump also signalled an economic pivot, saying US oil executives are expected to invest at least US$100 billion in Venezuela’s energy sector, while opposition figure María Corina Machado is slated to visit Washington next week.
The developments suggest a strategic recalibration toward diplomacy and energy cooperation, even as US forces remain deployed in the region.
