Overview
- At Davos, President Donald Trump said Venezuela will "do fantastically well," claiming the U.S. has incorporated 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil and that profits will be shared.
- He praised "very good" working ties with interim president Delcy Rodríguez following the early‑January operation that removed Nicolás Maduro and led to his transfer to New York on narcotrafficking charges.
- Trump publicly suggested he may involve opposition figure María Corina Machado in the transition after a private White House meeting where she presented him her Nobel medal, offering no details on a role.
- U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas urged the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and thanked President Javier Milei’s government for its support of the U.S. operation.
- Venezuelan NGOs say only about 150 of more than 800 detainees have been freed and report roughly 200 alleged forced disappearances, while industry sources voice skepticism about a rapid oil-sector restart.