Editorial: La Tabla/Plataforma de Periodismo de Datos 17 ENE 2026
John Ratcliffe, the CIA Director, met this Thursday in Caracas with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, acting strictly as a personal envoy of President Donald Trump. This meeting strengthened a pragmatic alliance prioritizing stability over democratic change just twelve days after the operation that captured Nicolás Maduro.
Context of a Historic Visit
The two-hour meeting is the first of a senior U.S. official in Venezuela since the daring military operation on January 3, which led to the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. They now face narcoterrorism charges in New York. Ratcliffe traveled “at the direction of President Trump” to convey that the United States expects an improved working relationship.
The Political Decision: Rodríguez over Machado
This meeting solidifies a key political decision by the Trump administration: supporting Delcy Rodríguez, a prominent figure within Chavismo and former vice president under Maduro, instead of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado. This decision was based on a classified CIA analysis that concluded Maduro-aligned officials would be better positioned to ensure short-term stability and avoid a power vacuum, while Machado would face “difficulties controlling the Government and Armed Forces.” On the same day as the meeting in Caracas, Machado met with Trump at the White House and gifted him her Nobel medal, a purely symbolic gesture that contrasts sharply with the operational support given to Rodríguez.
The Envoy’s Profile: Loyalty over Experience
Ratcliffe, whose connection to Venezuela is limited to his current role, is a long-time political ally of Trump, not a career spy. His background is that of a lawyer and Republican politician: he served as a federal prosecutor, mayor of a small Texas municipality, and congressman. In 2020, Trump appointed him as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), a position for which he had no intelligence training. His initial nomination in 2019 was rejected amid bipartisan concerns about his politicization, but he was confirmed in a subsequent vote in 2020. His performance as DNI was characterized by accusations of bias towards advancing Trump’s political interests, including the selective declassification of information regarding Russia before the 2020 elections. In January 2025, the Senate confirmed him as CIA director with a vote of 74 to 25.
Key Points from the Meeting
· Stated Objective: Build trust and convey that Venezuela can no longer serve as a “safe haven” for drug traffickers and U.S. adversaries.
· Discussed Topics: Intelligence cooperation, economic collaboration, and stability.
· Operational Background: The CIA has deployed an undercover team in Venezuela since August 2025 to track Maduro, which was crucial to his capture.
· Trump’s Vision: The president has stated that his administration basically “will govern” Venezuela during this transition, with a central interest in its oil production.