Khaberni - Venezuela announced on Friday that it has begun talks with the United States regarding the resumption of diplomatic relations, days after the arrest and transfer of President Nicolas Maduro from the capital, Caracas.
This is the latest sign of cooperation following the arrest of the leftist leader and the statement by American President Donald Trump that he "is taking charge" in the South American country.
Officials said American diplomats visited Caracas to discuss reopening the U.S. embassy.
In the meantime, anxious relatives gathered outside Venezuelan prisons on Friday, awaiting the release of their loved ones as authorities began freeing political prisoners, a move Washington said was prompted by them.
Among them was Delcia Caro (50 years old), who said "when I heard the news, I collapsed," explaining that she was waiting for the release of her husband Noel Flores, who was imprisoned for criticizing Maduro, according to her.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil stated in a release that the acting President Delcy Rodriguez's government "has decided to start an exploratory diplomatic process with the United States government, aiming to refocus diplomatic missions in both countries."
In turn, an anonymous American official said that the top U.S. diplomat in neighboring Colombia, John McNamara, and other officials, "traveled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment of the possibility of resuming operations in stages."
Venezuela said it would reciprocate by sending a delegation to Washington.
Trump pledges oil investments
Trump announced on Friday that he had canceled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela after the new leadership in Caracas declared its intention to cooperate with Washington.
The American president also hinted that he might use force again to achieve his goals in Venezuela, which possesses the largest proven oil reserves in the world.
Writing on his social networking account Truth Social, "Venezuela releases a large number of political prisoners as a sign of 'its pursuit of peace' (...) Due to this cooperation, I canceled a previously expected second wave of attacks."
The United States announced on Friday that it seized another oil tanker near Venezuela as part of the oil embargo it enforces on it.
Trump said that companies promised to invest $100 billion dollars in the Venezuelan oil sector, which has deteriorated infrastructure due to years of mismanagement and sanctions.
He earlier announced a plan for the United States to sell between 30 million and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, with him deciding how the funds will be used.
He promised that any money sent to Caracas would be used exclusively to buy American-made products.
Releasing prisoners
Venezuela began releasing prisoners on Thursday, in the first initiative of its kind since American forces arrested Maduro in a bloody raid on January 3.
Among those released was Enrique Marquez, the former opposition candidate who faced Maduro in the disputed 2024 presidential elections.
Jorge Rodriguez, the parliament president and brother of the acting president, said that "a large number of Venezuelan and foreign nationals" were immediately released for the sake of "peaceful coexistence."
Trump had previously played down the role of democracy as a motivating factor for the attack, although the United States has for years said that Maduro is illegitimate and that the elections were marred by fraud.
However, the American president said he will meet next week with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who he previously described as "a very nice woman" but who lacks the "respect" needed to lead Venezuela.
Trump stated to Fox News, "I believe she will come sometime next week, and I look forward to greeting her."
Meanwhile, exiled opposition member Edmundo Gonzalez Orotia said that any democratic transition in the country requires recognition of his victory in the 2024 presidential elections.
Maduro was pronounced winner in those elections, but dozens of countries, particularly in the West, considered the vote rigged.
Demonstrations in Caracas
American special forces executed an operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro, which resulted in the death of 100 people, according to a tally announced by Caracas.
The American forces transferred Maduro and his wife Celia Flores to New York to be tried on drug trafficking charges.
Despite her commitment to cooperate with the Trump administration, acting president Delcy Rodriguez emphasized on Thursday that her country "is neither a follower nor a subject."
Angry demonstrators gathered in the streets of Caracas on Friday, demanding the release of Maduro, noting that such demonstrations are organized daily.
Demonstrator Josefina Castro (70 years old) said, "We are not compelled to give Trump even a single drop of oil after all he has done to us."
She added, "Venezuelan brothers of ours died (in the attack), and this is painful."
