US Urges Venezuela to Distance Itself From Cuba Amidst Shifting Alliances
CARACAS – In a striking reversal of policy, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright concluded a tour of Venezuelan oil facilities Thursday alongside acting President Delcy Rodríguez, signaling a potential shift in the Trump administration’s approach to the oil-rich nation. The visit, which included a tour of facilities in Anzoátegui State, comes less than two months after a U.S. Delta Force operation resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now detained in the United States on drug-related charges.
The tour itself was described as a display of cooperation, with both U.S. And Venezuelan flags displayed side-by-side at the facilities visited. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the visit extended beyond energy concerns to include a direct request from the U.S. For Venezuela to distance itself from Cuba. Diplomatic sources in Mexico City, cited by La Política Online, confirmed that Washington is urging Venezuela to curtail any support for the Cuban regime, which the U.S. Believes is on the verge of collapse.
This request appears to be gaining traction within Venezuela’s leadership. Reports indicate that Venezuela has already ceased sending humanitarian aid to Cuba and is preparing to terminate contracts for over 11,000 Cuban doctors currently working within the country – a move mirrored by Guatemala. The shift is reportedly supported by Minister Diosdado Cabello, who has privately expressed concerns about Cuba’s influence within the Chavista movement.
The evolving relationship between Caracas and Havana follows a period of close ties, with Cuba playing a significant role in the ideological foundations of the Chavista government. The potential for Venezuela to contribute to a shift in Cuba’s political landscape, as suggested by Rodríguez to Wright, represents a dramatic turn. Rodríguez reportedly assured Wright that Venezuela could assist in a transition period for Cuba and indicated she would urge Havana to consider releasing political prisoners.
The visit resulted in the granting of two licenses by the White House, allowing U.S. Oil companies to resume operations in Venezuela. President Trump has too indicated a possible visit to Caracas, though he has simultaneously ordered the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier to redirect from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East.
The U.S. State Department is now closely monitoring Venezuela’s posture within the United Nations, with the possibility of a representative of Rodríguez participating in an upcoming meeting between President Trump and allied leaders in Miami. The success of Wright and Rodríguez’s meeting is underscored by the fact that Rodríguez, who is fluent in English, chose to converse in the language with Wright, a practice she had previously avoided for political reasons.