Caracas , 10 January (H.S.): Venezuela's interim government announced on Friday, the initiation of exploratory diplomatic negotiations with the United States aimed at reinstating full bilateral missions, mere days after U.S. special forces executed a lethal raid capturing former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on drug-trafficking charges.

Foreign Minister Yvan Gil confirmed reciprocal delegations, with U.S. diplomat John McNamara—previously stationed in Colombia—leading an assessment team to Caracas for phased embassy reopening evaluations, as Washington reciprocates by hosting Venezuelan envoys. This thaw follows President Donald Trump's suspension of a planned second wave of attacks after interim leader Delcy Rodríguez's administration began liberating political detainees on Thursday, including opposition figure Enrique Márquez from the disputed 2024 election, prompting Trump's Truth Social praise for the Seeking Peace gesture amid 100 reported fatalities from the January 3 operation.

Amid ongoing Caracas street protests demanding Maduro's release and decrying oil concessions—We don't have to give one little drop of oil to Trump, fumed activist Josefina Castro, 70—Trump touted $100 billion private oil investments into Venezuela's creaking infrastructure and a fifth tanker seizure enforcing U.S. oversight of 30-50 million barrels in crude sales, earmarking proceeds exclusively for American products.

Exiled opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, eyeing his son-in-law's freedom, insisted any transition honor his claimed 2024 victory, while Trump schedules a lukewarm encounter next week with María Corina Machado, dismissing her leadership credentials despite prior U.S. recognition of electoral fraud under Maduro.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar