Trump cancels second wave of attacks on Venezuela after cooperation

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has canceled a previously expected second wave of military attacks on Venezuela following what he described as substantial cooperation from the South American nation.

Speaking at a press event, Trump said that relations between the United States and Venezuela are “working well together,” and highlighted an emerging economic partnership focused on the energy sector. He said that U.S. oil companies — referred to as “big oil” — are expected to invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela’s oil and gas infrastructure, signaling a shift toward economic engagement after recent hostilities.

However, the president emphasized that all Venezuelan oil tankers will remain in place for safety and security purposes, indicating continued caution even as tensions ease.

The announcement comes amid a dramatic turn in U.S.–Venezuela relations following a controversial U.S. military operation in early January that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. While the administration has stressed cooperation and reconstruction, critics both domestically and internationally have raised concerns about the legality and broader implications of U.S. involvement in Venezuela.

Trump’s statement suggests a potential pivot from military confrontation toward a strategy that leverages economic investment and diplomatic engagement to stabilize the situation and support Venezuela’s energy production, though many details of these plans are still emerging.

— Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Mark Heinrich/Reuters