US envoy leaves Venezuela with six Americans after meeting Maduro
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US President Donald Trump's envoy Richard Grenell and Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Jan 31.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON/BOGOTA - US President Donald Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell said on Jan 31 he was headed back to the United States with six American citizens, after he met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.
Officials from the Trump administration had said earlier on Jan 31 that one of Mr Grenell’s top tasks for the visit was the release of Americans detained in the country.
Mr Grenell did not name the six men, shown in a photo with him abroad an airplane, posted on X, but they were dressed in light blue outfits used by the Venezuelan prison system.
It is unclear exactly how many Americans are being held by Venezuela, but Venezuelan officials have spoken publicly about at least nine.
Mr Maduro’s officials have accused most of them of terrorism and said some were high-level “mercenaries”. The Venezuelan government regularly accuses members of the opposition and foreign detainees of conspiring with the US to commit terrorism. US officials have always denied any plots.
“American hostages that are being held in Venezuela... must be released immediately,” Mr Mauricio Claver-Carone, the US special envoy for Latin America, said earlier on Jan 31.
In late 2023, Venezuela’s government released dozens of prisoners, including 10 Americans, after months of negotiations, while the US released a close ally of Mr Maduro. REUTERS
