Caracas,
Venezuela has begun releasing a significant number of political detainees, including foreign nationals, in what appears to be a major concession to the United States following dramatic political changes in the oil-rich South American nation.
The releases, which started on Thursday, mark the first such move since Delcy Rodríguez assumed leadership after former president Nicolás Maduro was removed from power in a US-led operation earlier this month. Washington has indicated it is prepared to support Rodríguez’s interim administration provided it cooperates on political reforms and grants the United States access to Venezuela’s vast oil resources.
US officials were quick to claim credit. The White House said the prisoner releases were the result of direct pressure from President Donald Trump. “This is an example of how the president is using maximum leverage to do right by the American and Venezuelan people,” Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.
Rodríguez’s brother, National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodríguez, confirmed that “a large number” of Venezuelan citizens and foreign nationals were being freed immediately, describing the move as necessary to promote “peaceful coexistence”. However, authorities did not specify how many detainees would be released, their identities, or which detention facilities were involved.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the development, calling it a long-overdue step toward justice. In a recorded message shared on social media, she said injustice could not last forever and that truth would ultimately prevail.
Families await news
Scenes of uncertainty and cautious hope unfolded outside several detention centres in Caracas, including El Helicoide — a notorious intelligence complex long criticised by human rights groups. Security was visibly tightened as relatives gathered, waiting for confirmation that their loved ones were among those being freed.
Spain’s foreign ministry confirmed that at least five Spanish citizens had been released, including prominent Spanish-Venezuelan activist Rocío San Miguel. She had been detained since February 2024 over alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate Maduro — accusations she had denied.
Rights group Foro Penal estimates that more than 800 political prisoners remain in Venezuelan jails. While the organisation welcomed the initial releases, it said it was still verifying information and urged authorities to ensure transparency and due process.
A country in transition
The prisoner releases come amid profound political upheaval. Maduro was captured earlier this month during a US-backed operation that included air strikes and Special Forces raids, an intervention that Caracas says left around 100 people dead. Maduro and his wife were later transferred to the United States to face drug-related charges.
President Trump has since said Washington would oversee a transitional period in Venezuela and seek long-term access to its oil reserves, the largest proven in the world. In an interview with The New York Times, Trump suggested US involvement could last “much longer” than a few months.
Despite this, Delcy Rodríguez has rejected claims that Venezuela is under foreign control. Speaking at a ceremony honouring those killed during the operation, she insisted the country was “not subordinate or subjugated”, saying there had been resistance in defence of national sovereignty.
Thousands of Maduro supporters later rallied in Caracas, waving red flags and demanding his release, underscoring the deep political divisions that persist.
Oil at the centre of negotiations
Oil has emerged as a key bargaining chip in relations with Washington. The Trump administration has proposed selling between 30 and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, with proceeds used to purchase US-made goods. Rodríguez has defended the plan, saying such arrangements are not unusual in international trade.
Public opinion remains divided. Some Venezuelans say US involvement could bring economic opportunity, while others fear a loss of sovereignty.
Meanwhile, unease is growing in Washington. The US Senate has advanced a resolution seeking to limit presidential authority over military actions in Venezuela, reflecting bipartisan concern over the scale and secrecy of the intervention.
As Venezuela navigates an uncertain transition, the prisoner releases are being seen as a symbolic first step. Whether they lead to broader reforms — or deeper dependency on Washington — remains an open question.
