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The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe, held a meeting on Thursday in Caracas with the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed sources from the U.S. government cited by CNN.
During the meeting, Ratcliffe discussed potential areas for economic collaboration and emphasized that Venezuela "can no longer be a safe haven for the adversaries of the United States, especially drug traffickers," according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The meeting aimed to build trust and demonstrates Ratcliffe's interest in having the CIA take a more active role and be less reluctant to take risks in the region.
The meeting takes place in a context where President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his control over Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in early January, an operation carried out by U.S. special forces.
Since then, Washington has taken the lead in the transition process in the country and gained control over its oil production.
In parallel, Trump received opposition leader María Corina Machado in the Oval Office on the same Thursday, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a sign of gratitude and political support.
However, it became clear during the day that the American president has decided to bet on Delcy Rodríguez as a key figure to maintain order during the Venezuelan transition.
Both Rodríguez and Machado are seeking Trump's political favor, who has reaffirmed his intention to ensure Venezuela's stability under direct supervision from the United States.
Ratcliffe's meeting with Rodríguez reinforces the idea that the U.S. is not only seeking to influence Venezuelan politics but also to redesign its economic and security structure.
The New York Times was the first outlet to report the details of the meeting between Ratcliffe and Delcy Rodríguez, while CNN later confirmed the information through official U.S. sources.
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