Top US military commander visits Venezuela, meets new leader following operation to capture Maduro

The caput of the U.S. Southern Command traveled to Venezuela to conscionable with the country’s acting president conscionable weeks aft U.S. forces captured erstwhile person Nicolás Maduro. 

The travel connected Wednesday, described arsenic a astonishment visit, was the archetypal to Venezuela by a U.S. subject delegation since the Jan. 3 raid to retrieve Maduro, according to Reuters. 

"The commandant of U.S. Southern Command, Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Chargé d’Affaires to the Venezuela Affairs Unit, Ambassador Laura F. Dogu, and U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of War for Homeland Defense and the Americas Joseph M. Humire met with Venezuelan interim authorities successful Caracas," U.S. Southern Command said successful a statement. 

"During the meeting, the leaders reiterated the United States’ committedness to a free, safe and prosperous Venezuela for the Venezuelan people, the United States, and the Western Hemisphere," it added.

VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER MACHADO PRAISES TRUMP FOR DELIVERING ‘BERLIN WALL’ MOMENT FOR THE AMERICAS

Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commandant of U.S. Southern Command, engages with Marines assigned to basal ticker astatine U.S. Embassy facilities successful Caracas, Venezuela, connected Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (U.S. Southern Command/Venezuela Affairs Unit )

"Discussions focused connected the information environment, steps to guarantee the implementation of President Donald Trump’s three-phase program – peculiarly the stabilization of Venezuela – and the value of shared information crossed the Western Hemisphere," U.S. Central Command besides said.  

The U.S. Embassy successful Venezuela added successful a station connected X that it was a "historic day" successful a propulsion to "advance the objective of a Venezuela aligned with the United States."

TRUMP SAYS US PILOTS WERE ‘HIT PRETTY BAD IN THE LEGS’ DURING MADURO CAPTURE MISSION

Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Ambassador Laura F. Dogu, the chargé d’affaires to the Venezuela Affairs Unit, and Joseph M. Humire, acting adjunct caput of warfare for homeland defence and the Americas, airs for a photograph successful Venezuela, connected Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (U.S. Southern Command/Venezuela Affairs Unit )

Venezuela’s authorities said the U.S. delegation met with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, with the 2 sides agreeing to coordinate connected drug-trafficking, coercion and migration, Reuters reported. The Associated Press besides confirmed that Donovan, who is the caput of American subject operations successful Latin America, met with Rodriguez.

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, waves aft bidding farewell to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright pursuing their gathering successful Caracas, Venezuela, connected Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

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"The gathering reaffirms that diplomacy should beryllium the mechanics for resolving differences and addressing issues of bilateral and determination interests," it besides cited Venezuela's Communications Minister Miguel Angel Perez arsenic saying connected X. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.