CIA Director John Ratcliffe met in Caracas on Thursday with Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim president, reinforcing the Trump administration's message that it sees an interim government as the best path to short-term stability in the country.
According to CNN, during the meeting, Ratcliffe discussed with Rodríguez possible areas of economic cooperation, while emphasizing that Venezuela cannot continue to serve as a haven for opponents of the United States, with particular emphasis on drug trafficking networks.
As a US official stated, this contact was aimed at increasing mutual trust and reflects Ratcliffe's willingness for the CIA to act with less hesitation.
The meeting took place at a time when Donald Trump appears to be strengthening Washington's control over Venezuela, particularly in the oil production sector.
Trump has declared that the United States will "basically manage" the country, following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
