USA Talks with Grenell: Venezuela releases imprisoned US citizens

SDA

1.2.2025 - 07:38

HANDOUT - US special envoy Richard Grenell (left) with Nicolás Maduro. Photo: Uncredited/Miraflores/AP/dpa
HANDOUT - US special envoy Richard Grenell (left) with Nicolás Maduro. Photo: Uncredited/Miraflores/AP/dpa
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Venezuela has released six imprisoned Americans following talks between US special envoy Richard Grenell and President Nicolás Maduro. US President Donald Trump was delighted. Grenell is bringing "six hostages" home from Venezuela, Trump wrote on the X platform and thanked the special envoy: "Great job!".

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The special envoy for special missions in turn posted a photo on X in which he smiles into the camera with the six freed hostages. "We are in the air and returning home with these six American citizens," he wrote. The men had spoken to Trump on the phone "and couldn't thank him enough". The reason for the detention of the Americans in Venezuela was not initially known.

Grenell had originally traveled to Venezuela to urge President Maduro to take back deported migrants. Mauricio Claver-Carone, Special Representative for Latin America at the US State Department, had previously said that Trump expected Maduro to "take back all Venezuelan criminals and gang members who have been exported to the United States". In addition, imprisoned Americans should be "released immediately". This is unconditional and "non-negotiable". Otherwise there will be consequences.

The visit came less than a month after Maduro was sworn in for a third term in office - following an election overshadowed by allegations of fraud, nationwide protests and international criticism. The USA does not recognize Maduro's claim to the election victory and, together with Canada, the UK and the EU, had imposed sanctions against high-ranking officials in the South American country.

The US State Department also increased the rewards to up to 25 million dollars each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maduro and his Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.