US President Donald Trump announced early Friday that he has cancelled a previously planned second wave of attacks on Venezuela, citing the South American nation’s cooperation with the United States in recent days.
The development comes nearly a week after Trump ordered a military operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now reportedly in US custody alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. Following the operation, Trump had indicated that a larger follow-up attack might be necessary.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the US and Venezuela are “working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure.” He added:
“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second wave of attacks, which looks like it will not be needed; however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes.”
Trump also praised Venezuela for releasing high-profile political prisoners, calling it a “very important and smart gesture” signaling a willingness to seek peace. The prisoners, including opposition politicians, began to be released on Thursday, the acting government said.
US officials had reportedly demanded the release of political prisoners as part of negotiations with Venezuela’s interim authorities following the military operation.
Trump has indicated that the United States will exercise effective control over Venezuela, with the President telling the New York Times that the US presence could last “much longer” than a year. He also did not rule out prolonged military involvement, while pledging to target drug cartels on land, complementing ongoing maritime strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled to meet with executives from major oil companies to encourage investment and increased production in Venezuela. He claimed that “at least 100 billion dollars will be invested by BIG OIL,” although industry insiders have expressed skepticism about committing such massive sums without clearer timelines or guarantees of success.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have outlined plans for unprecedented US influence over Venezuelan oil production, but details on selling the oil and managing revenues are reportedly still being finalised.
Next week, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is expected to visit Washington, DC, a meeting Trump said he looks forward to, though he remains skeptical of her leadership potential:
“She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she’s not positioned to lead.”
The unfolding events signal a dramatic shift in US-Venezuela relations, with military, political, and economic dimensions converging in a highly volatile region.
