Legal Literacy - Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Ratcliffe visited Caracas and met with the interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The meeting, which lasted about two hours, was one of the first high-level contacts from Washington with Caracas since the US military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026.

A US official speaking on condition of anonymity said Ratcliffe came at the direction of President Donald Trump to convey the message that the United States wants a better working relationship with Venezuela. The visit was described as part of an effort to rebuild communication and trust between the two parties.

In the meeting, Ratcliffe and Rodríguez discussed a number of strategic issues, ranging from intelligence cooperation, economic stability, to a commitment that Venezuela will no longer be a haven for parties deemed a threat to the US, especially drug criminals. The US official also mentioned the need for Venezuela to stop supporting or providing space for criminal networks, including groups connected to drug trafficking.

Ratcliffe's visit occurred after Trump and Rodríguez reportedly held telephone talks the day before, which each side described as positive. On the same day, the political dynamics of Venezuela were also highlighted in…