Ratcliffe Visits Caracas as US Moves to Secure Venezuelan Energy Stability

2026-01-17 global

Caracas, Friday, 16 January 2026.
Washington signals a major strategic pivot, engaging directly with Caracas to ensure stability while asserting indefinite control over Venezuela’s critical oil exports.

A New Diplomatic Channel

On Thursday, January 15, CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Caracas for a high-stakes meeting with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez, establishing the first direct high-level contact between the two nations since U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3 [1][2][6]. The two-hour session, executed at the direction of President Donald Trump, served to convey a pragmatic message: Washington is prepared for an “improved working relationship” with the current administration, provided Venezuela ceases to function as a safe haven for U.S. adversaries and narcotrafficking organizations, specifically the Tren de Aragua gang [2][5][7]. This engagement underscores a rapid pivot in U.S. foreign policy, prioritizing immediate regional stability and energy security over traditional diplomatic protocols.

Strategic Realism and Stability

The decision to engage Rodríguez rather than immediately install opposition leadership stems from a calculated assessment of Venezuela’s internal power dynamics. A CIA analysis concluded that officials aligned with the former regime, such as Rodríguez, are best positioned to maintain short-term stability in the vacuum left by Maduro’s detention [2]. This sentiment was echoed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright earlier this week, who noted the necessity of working with “the people that have the guns today” to prevent a total national collapse while steering the country toward a better station [4]. Consequently, the Trump administration has backed Rodríguez for the near term, viewing her as the most capable operator to manage the transition [2][5].

The Energy Imperative: Indefinite Control

Central to this new bilateral framework is the restructuring of Venezuela’s vast energy sector. A senior U.S. official has affirmed that the United States intends to control Venezuelan oil sales “indefinitely,” a move President Trump asserts will drive down global energy prices [1]. In her first state of the nation address, delivered the same day as Ratcliffe’s visit, Rodríguez signaled her compliance with this new economic reality by announcing significant reforms to the nation’s hydrocarbon laws [1][3]. These proposed changes would eliminate the mandate for the state-run PDVSA to hold a majority stake in joint ventures, thereby opening the door for expanded foreign investment and capital flow into new fields [3].

Reforming the Petro-State

Currently, Chevron remains the last major American oil company operating within Venezuela, but the administration is poised to decide which additional companies will be permitted to enter the market [1][3]. To manage the expected revenue shifts, Rodríguez instructed her government to establish two sovereign funds: one dedicated to social protection and another for infrastructure and social development [3]. These economic maneuvers suggest a roadmap where U.S. corporate interests are deeply integrated into Venezuela’s recovery, with President Trump emphasizing on Truth Social that the partnership would cover “Oil, Minerals, Trade, and, of course, National Security” [6].

The Opposition’s Diminishing Leverage

While Ratcliffe solidified terms in Caracas, the Venezuelan opposition faced a cooler reception in Washington. On January 15, President Trump met with opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a gesture of respect [4][5]. However, the administration has publicly cast doubt on her ability to govern, with Trump stating he does not believe Machado commands sufficient domestic support to lead the country at this time [5][7]. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced this stance on Friday, confirming the President’s assessment of Machado’s political viability [7].

Future Uncertainty

The divergence between the U.S. treatment of Rodríguez and Machado highlights a prioritization of functional control over immediate democratic transition. President Trump has likened the complexities of the Venezuelan situation to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and, while expressing a commitment to seeing elections “one day,” has provided no specific timetable for such an event [7]. For now, the U.S. strategy appears firmly rooted in managing the country directly through the interim administration, ensuring that Venezuela’s resources and security apparatus align with Washington’s interests.

Sources

Foreign Policy Venezuela