Venezuela has released six U.S. citizens, who had been detained in the country, following a series of discussions between President Nicolás Maduro and Richard Grenell, a special envoy from the Trump administration. The release marks a significant diplomatic development, one that follows months of tension between the U.S. and Venezuela, particularly regarding the detainment of U.S. citizens and strained relations due to political disagreements.
Grenell, who played a key role in the talks, shared the news with the public on social media. He posted a photo of the six detainees aboard a plane, and mentioned that they had spoken by phone with former U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing their gratitude for the intervention. Grenell’s message, posted on X (formerly Twitter), read, “We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens.” The special envoy also highlighted their appreciation for Trump’s involvement, with the detainees reportedly thanking the former president during their conversation.
The White House had previously called on Venezuela to release these “U.S. hostages” and emphasized that failure to do so would lead to serious consequences. This call to action was part of broader discussions, with the U.S. also agreeing to accept the deportation of Venezuelan criminals back to their home country. Although Grenell did not disclose the names of the freed individuals, state media in Venezuela confirmed that the discussions were respectful and focused on resolving the issue amicably.
This release comes in the wake of a January announcement from Caracas, in which the Venezuelan government claimed to have captured a group of “mercenaries,” including U.S. citizens. The timing is notable, as it occurs just a month after Maduro was sworn in for a controversial third term as president, following disputed elections that were widely deemed illegitimate by both the opposition and international bodies, including the U.S.
However, Grenell’s visit should not be interpreted as an official recognition of Maduro’s presidency. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made it clear that while the U.S. engaged in talks to secure the release of the detained Americans, it did not acknowledge Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
The freeing of these six U.S. citizens marks a potential shift in U.S.-Venezuela relations, yet it remains to be seen whether this will lead to a broader diplomatic thaw or remain an isolated case.
