WASHINGTON – In a notable diplomatic move, CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a significant visit to Venezuela, marking him as the highest-ranking Trump administration official to set foot in the country following a U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro. Ratcliffe’s mission was to engage in discussions with Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez.

Taking place in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, the meeting stretched over two hours. A U.S. government official, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to comment publicly, confirmed the details on Friday. This dialogue underscores a pivotal moment in U.S.-Venezuelan relations.

According to the official, President Donald Trump personally encouraged this diplomatic engagement, aiming to signal a desire for improved relations with Venezuela. Interestingly, this meeting coincided with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s visit to the White House, where she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump despite feeling marginalized by his administration.

The visit is anticipated to be perceived as evidence of Trump’s readiness to engage with Rodríguez, who was previously Maduro’s right-hand until the dramatic U.S. military maneuver two weeks prior. This operation resulted in Maduro being brought to the U.S. to face charges related to drug trafficking.

Reported initially by The New York Times, Ratcliffe’s trip involved a select group of American officials and aimed to establish a foundation for future cooperation between the Trump administration and Venezuela’s emerging leadership. This meeting is seen as a step towards potential economic collaboration, with Ratcliffe emphasizing the importance of ensuring Venezuela remains free from the influence of adversaries, particularly drug traffickers.

Ratcliffe discussed potential economic collaboration between the two countries and warned that Venezuela can never again allow the presence of American adversaries, including drug traffickers, the official said.

The CIA played a key role in the operation to apprehend Maduro, providing critical intelligence support, as well as mounting an earlier drone strike on a dock used by cartels, U.S. officials have said.

Rodríguez used her first state of the union message as acting president Thursday to advocate for opening the crucial state-run oil industry to more foreign investment following the Trump administration’s pledge to seize control of Venezuelan crude sales.