Nicolás Maduro Meets Richard Grenell To Discuss Deportations And A Zero Agenda With Trump

On Friday 31 de enero en Caracas, Nicolás Maduro received Richard Grenell, enviado especial del mandatario Donald Trump, en el Palacio de Miraflores para tratar deportaciones y proponer una "agenda cero" con EE. UU.

“Trump says that Venezuela agreed to receive undocumented Venezuelan nationals who are deported, and members of the Tren de Aragua, after Caracas freed six Americans following a visit by his envoy”

BBC

The France 24 report says the meeting included the president of the Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, and that the White House clarified the visit did not mean it was recognizing Maduro’s government.

BBC

In the same context, the BBC reported that after Venezuelan authorities freed six Americans imprisoned in Venezuela, Trump said Miraflores Palace had agreed to receive undocumented Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States and members of the Tren de Aragua.

The BBC also quoted Grenell’s message that "The United States and President Trump expect Nicolás Maduro to take back all the criminals and gang members" exported to the United States, and said the State Department described the aim as securing deportation flights and the release of Americans detained in Venezuela.

The Washington Post described Mauricio Claver-Carone as having "no official job in the U.S. government" while, after Maduro’s removal, taking on an even greater role as an unofficial U.S. viceroy of Venezuela.

In that account, Claver-Carone told The Washington Post, "I don't make decisions," adding, "I can just say 'Hey listen, here’s what I see, here’s who I know" and describing his role as helping implement policy.

France 24

The BBC framed the Grenell-Maduro meeting as the first public contact between the Venezuelan and U.S. governments since Trump’s return to the White House, and it said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt answered if Washington recognizes Maduro with "absolutely not."

The Washington Post also reported that more than 10 current and former U.S. officials and others said Claver-Carone relayed instructions on behalf of Washington while working directly with Delcy Rodríguez and Jorge Rodríguez in Caracas.

In the France 24 account, the U.S. side said the objective of Grenell’s visit was to get Caracas to accept deportation flights for undocumented migrants and to secure the release of citizens of the United States detained in Venezuelan prisons.

“A mastermind of Trump’s hardline Latin American policies, Mauricio Claver-Carone no longer serves in the administration”

The Grayzone

France 24 quoted Mauricio Claver-Carone saying the mission was "muy concreta" and that the United States and Trump expect Maduro to receive back "todos los criminales y miembros de pandillas venezolanos" "sin condiciones," and it added that the second point was that "los rehenes estadounidenses" detained in Venezuela must be released immediately.

The BBC reported that Trump said Venezuela agreed to provide return transport and that the release of six Americans occurred after the Friday meeting at Miraflores Palace, with Grenell posting on X that he was returning to the United States with the six Americans freed.

The BBC also stated that Venezuelan authorities detained at least nine people of American nationality after the controversial July 28, 2024 elections, and it said Venezuelan authorities described about 150 foreigners as "mercenaries" detained in recent months.