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CIA Prepares Permanent Presence in Venezuela Following Maduro’s Capture and Embassy Reopening Plans

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U.S. intelligence spearheads initial re‑entry into Caracas The CIA is quietly planning a long‑term foothold in Venezuela, beginning with a covert annex that will precede the reopening of the U.S. embassy [1]. A covert team placed inside the country in August helped monitor and capture former President Nicolás Maduro, providing critical intelligence for the operation [1]. CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Caracas, meeting interim President Delcy Rodríguez and senior military officials to signal the United States’ new posture [1].

State Department coordinates diplomatic assessment and chargé appointment Parallel talks involve the State Department, which is tasked with establishing a short‑term annex and a long‑term diplomatic mission [1]. A team of diplomatic and security personnel has been dispatched to Caracas for an initial assessment of embassy reopening [1]. Veteran diplomat Laura Dogu has been named to lead the Venezuela Affairs Unit as the full‑time chargé d’affaires [1].

Interim government receives direct CIA messaging During Ratcliffe’s visit, he delivered a clear warning that Venezuela can no longer serve as a safe haven for U.S. adversaries [1]. The CIA’s analysis also guided Washington’s decision to back Rodríguez over opposition leader María Machado in the post‑Maduro transition [1]. Venezuelan intelligence and opposition figures are expected to be contacted informally through the upcoming annex [1].

Strategic shift mirrors CIA operations in Ukraine The planned annex follows a model previously used by the CIA in Ukraine, allowing U.S. officials to build informal contacts before formal diplomatic channels are restored [1]. This approach reflects the Trump administration’s “newfound influence” in Venezuela after the capture of Maduro [1]. The permanent foothold aims to cement U.S. presence amid the country’s political transition [1].

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Timeline

2019 – The United States closes its Caracas embassy and evacuates diplomatic staff, relocating embassy functions to Bogotá, Colombia, after deteriorating security and political tensions, establishing a diplomatic void that persists through 2026 [3].

Feb 2025 – Former Trump envoy Richard Grenell visits Caracas, a high‑level contact that precedes Venezuela’s release of six detained Americans and signals a tentative thaw in relations [5].

Aug 2025 – A covert CIA team operating inside Venezuela monitors Nicolás Maduro’s movements; the intelligence enables a joint operation that captures Maduro, and a classified CIA analysis steers U.S. policy to back interim President Delcy Rodríguez over opposition leader María Corina Machado [1][2].

Jan 9, 2026 – A State Department delegation from the Venezuela Affairs Unit travels to Caracas for an initial security and logistics assessment, marking the first on‑the‑ground U.S. presence since Maduro’s ouster and laying groundwork for a phased embassy reopening [3].

Jan 9, 2026 – Simultaneously, U.S. and Venezuelan officials hold exploratory talks in Caracas about restoring formal diplomatic ties, with Venezuela announcing plans to send a delegation to the United States pending a possible sanctions waiver [5].

Jan 10, 2026 – The State Department issues a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory and orders all U.S. citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, warning that armed colectivos are setting roadblocks to target Americans and that consular assistance is unavailable within the country [4].

Jan 16, 2026 – CIA Director John Ratcliffe meets interim President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas, telling her that “Venezuela can no longer serve as a safe haven for U.S. adversaries” and discussing economic cooperation and a crackdown on narcotrafficking [2].

Jan 16, 2026 – President Donald Trump declares that the United States will “effectively run” Venezuela’s oil sector and accepts a Nobel Peace Prize medal from opposition leader María Corina Machado as a symbolic gesture of U.S. influence [2].

Jan 27, 2026 – The CIA outlines a plan to establish a permanent U.S. foothold in Venezuela: a short‑term CIA annex will precede an official embassy, enabling informal contacts with intelligence, government factions, and opposition figures, while State Department talks focus on a long‑term diplomatic mission; veteran diplomat Laura Dogu is tapped to lead the Venezuela Affairs Unit as Chargé d’Affaires [1].

Future (2026‑2027) – The United States prepares to reopen its Caracas embassy contingent on improved security, with the CIA annex serving as an interim presence and a sanctions waiver expected to be required for the planned Venezuelan delegation to Washington, signaling a possible normalization of bilateral relations [5][1].

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