US Intelligence Questions Venezuela Leader’s Cooperation

According to a Reuters exclusive, U.S. intelligence assessments have raised doubts about whether interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez is fully aligned with the Trump administration’s strategy, four people familiar with the reports said. The reports said it remains unclear whether Rodriguez is committed to formally cutting relations with countries considered U.S. adversaries.

U.S. officials have publicly urged the interim leader to sever ties with close allies such as Iran, China and Russia, including expelling their diplomats and advisers from Venezuela. Rodriguez, however, has not announced such a move, despite representatives from those countries attending her swearing-in ceremony earlier this month.

Rodriguez assumed the presidency after former President Nicolas Maduro was captured by U.S. forces on January 3.

High-Level Talks, Limited Clarity

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Caracas on January 15 and held talks with Rodriguez about Venezuela’s political future. It was not clear whether those discussions altered the intelligence community’s assessment of her willingness to cooperate.

Neither the Central Intelligence Agency nor the Venezuelan government responded to requests for comment. A senior Trump administration official said President Donald Trump continues to apply “maximum leverage” on Venezuela’s leaders and expects cooperation to persist.

Strategic Stakes for Washington

Washington is seeking to curb the influence of its geopolitical rivals in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in Venezuela, an OPEC member with vast oil reserves. U.S. officials believe that if Rodriguez were to break ties with Iran, China and Russia, it could open the door to greater U.S. investment in Venezuela’s energy sector.

Failure to secure her cooperation, however, could undermine Washington’s ability to guide the country’s interim leadership and increase the risk of deeper U.S. military involvement.

The CIA has previously assessed that officials loyal to Maduro, including Rodriguez, were best positioned to govern following his removal, though critics of Trump’s Venezuela policy have questioned keeping Maduro-era figures in power.

Pressure to Abandon Longtime Allies

For Venezuela, complying with U.S. demands would mean abandoning its closest international partners. Iran has assisted in repairing oil refineries, China has received oil as repayment for debt, and Russia has supplied weapons, including missiles, to Venezuela’s military.

Trump has also identified communist-led Cuba as a key ally he wants Venezuela to abandon. Cuba has provided security and intelligence support while receiving discounted Venezuelan oil.

Since Maduro’s removal, Rodriguez has taken steps seen as conciliatory toward Washington, including releasing political prisoners and authorizing the sale of 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. Still, in a recent speech she said she had had “enough” of U.S. intervention.

Limited Alternatives for Now

Despite concerns, U.S. officials see no immediate alternative to working with Rodriguez, given the strong public backing she has received from Washington. At the same time, U.S. officials are reportedly developing contacts with senior military and security figures as a contingency.

Machado Seen as Long-Term Option

The intelligence reports also assessed that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is not currently positioned to govern effectively, citing her limited ties to the security services and oil sector. Machado remains popular among Venezuelans, and her supporters say she won the 2024 election by a wide margin, though the state declared a Maduro victory at the time.

Trump has said he wants Machado “involved” in Venezuela’s leadership. People familiar with the discussions said she is well regarded by the White House and viewed as a longer-term option, potentially in an advisory role, though no final decisions have been made.