The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has flown to Caracas to meet Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, less than two weeks after US special forces abducted Nicolás Maduro. The visit comes as opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was sidelined after Maduro's capture, vowed she would become the country's first elected female president.
Machado's comments were broadcast on Friday, a day after she handed her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump in recognition of what she called a principled move against Maduro. Despite her bullishness, experts say Trump has marginalised her opposition movement since the assault on Caracas, instead backing Rodríguez, whom he called a 'terrific person'.
Trump's decision to support Rodríguez was reportedly based partly on personal animosity towards Machado and partly on CIA advice that she would be incapable of preventing a security breakdown. The US energy secretary, Chris Wright, said Washington needed to work with those who 'have the guns today' to prevent a collapse of the nation.
Analysts doubt Machado's gift will change Trump's mind, noting that Rodríguez's administration is already complying with key US demands, including opening up Venezuela's oil reserves to American companies. The first US deportation flight since Maduro's capture landed in Caracas on Friday carrying 199 Venezuelans.
