President Donald Trump said early Friday that he has called off a “previously expected” second wave of attacks on Venezuela, citing improved cooperation between Caracas and Washington.
The decision follows last week’s US-led military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now in US custody along with his wife, Cilia Flores. At the time, Trump had warned that a larger follow-up strike might be needed, but he now says that option is off the table.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the two countries are “working well together,” particularly on plans to rebuild and modernize Venezuela’s oil and gas infrastructure. Because of that cooperation, he said, the second wave of attacks is no longer necessary, though US forces will remain in place for security reasons.
Trump also pointed to Venezuela’s release of political prisoners as a positive sign. The country began freeing several high-profile detainees this week, including opposition figures, in what officials described as a move to “seek peace.”
After Maduro’s ouster, US officials had pushed Venezuela’s interim leadership to release political prisoners and implement reforms. Trump has since suggested the US could maintain long-term involvement in the country, telling the New York Times he expects American influence there to last “much longer” than a few months or a year.
He has also left the door open to broader military action in the region, saying his administration plans to step up efforts against drug cartels, following months of strikes on trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
At the same time, Trump is preparing to meet with top oil executives at the White House to encourage major investments in Venezuela’s energy sector. He claimed that “at least $100 billion” could be invested by large oil companies, though industry leaders remain skeptical about committing that level of funding to rebuild the country’s damaged infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the US Senate moved to limit future military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. A bipartisan group of lawmakers advanced a resolution that would restrict the president’s authority to launch additional operations, a measure expected to pass next week.