The U.S. strengthens its presence in Venezuela with the visit of the head of Southern Command

The head of U.S. Southern Command, Francis Donovan, visited Venezuela and met with officials from the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez to assess "security issues" and the implementation of President Donald Trump's three-phase plan.

The Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. in Caracas, Laura Dogu, stated on the social network X that the visit concluded this Wednesday after meetings with interim authorities to “ensure the implementation of the three-phase plan” and to advance the goal of a “Venezuela aligned with the United States,” reported EFE.

According to the diplomat, Donovan also held meetings with members of the Joint Force service that monitor the U.S. embassy facilities and with interagency partners.

The plan referred to by Washington includes three stages following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3: the stabilization of the country and "restoration of security," the recovery of the economy, and a transition towards a "friendly, stable, prosperous, and democratic Venezuela."

In another post on X, Southern Command described the meetings as "productive" and reiterated the United States' commitment to "a free, safe, and prosperous Venezuela, for the benefit of the Venezuelan people, the United States, and the Western Hemisphere."

The meetings also included the Chargé d'Affaires and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of National Defense of the U.S., Joseph M. Humire.

Donovan's visit took place a week after the trip to Venezuela by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who signed a long-term energy agreement with Rodríguez, the details of which have not been disclosed.

Exactly one week ago, the United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, arrived in Venezuela on a visit deemed strategic to advance plans for the revitalization of the oil industry in that Caribbean country under President Donald Trump's vision.

The United States Embassy in Venezuela shared a welcome message on social media for Wright, highlighting that his visit is key to advancing the vision of a prosperous Venezuela driven by the American private sector, which will be essential for boosting the oil sector, modernizing the electrical grid, and unlocking Venezuela's enormous potential, according to the official statement from the diplomatic representation.