Trump calls off second wave of attacks as Venezuela frees political prisoners

Donald Trump welcomed Venezuela’s release of political prisoners as a peace gesture, canceled planned attacks, and signaled closer US–Venezuela collaboration, including major oil and gas investment, while rights groups urged caution.

US President Donald Trump said Venezuela’s decision to release political prisoners was a

“very important and smart gesture”, announcing that Washington had canceled a previously expected second wave of military attacks and was moving ahead with large-scale energy cooperation with Caracas.

In a post on his Truth Social platform,Trump said Venezuela was “seeking peace” and confirmed that the US and Venezuela were working closely on rebuilding the country’s oil and gas infrastructure. He said at least $100 billion would be invested by major oil companies, adding that US naval assets would remain in place “for safety and security purposes.”

Trump’s comments came five days after the United States seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, an unprecedented move that triggered rapid developments on the ground. Shortly afterwards, Venezuelan authorities announced they were releasing an “important number” of detainees in what they described as a unilateral gesture to “consolidate peace”

Among those freed was former opposition presidential candidate Enrique Márquez, while Spain confirmed the release of five Spanish nationals, including prominent human rights attorney Rocío San Miguel, who had been accused of terrorism and treason. Opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the releases, saying they showed that “injustice will not last forever”.

However, rights groups have urged caution. NGOs estimate Venezuela still holds between 800 and 1,000 political prisoners, most detained after protests following the contested 2024 election. By late Thursday, only a handful of releases had been independently verified, raising worries that the move could be partial or conditional.

Activists also point to uncertainty over the future of El Helicoide, a notorious detention facility long accused of torture. While some sections appear to be vacant, monitors say the complex remains operational.

Trump previously alleged Venezuela was closing a “torture chamber” in Caracas, though no official confirmation has been given.

Families of detainees have gathered outside prisons nationwide, hoping the promised releases materialise. For now, Venezuela’s move is being seen as a tentative opening—one closely watched as US pressure, political uncertainty and economic stakes converge.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he had canceled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela.

Trump said American oil giants would invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela.

The White House ordered military action in Venezuela over the weekend that led to the capture of President Nicholas Maduro.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has canceled a fresh military attack on Venezuela, saying the two countries “are working well together,” on rebuilding the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure.

Writing on Truth Social on Friday, Trump noted Venezuela’s release of “large numbers of political prisoners” which he called “a very important and smart gesture.”

“Because of this collaboration, I have canceled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,” Trump said.

Washington launched a military operation in Venezuela over the weekend that led to the capture of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, both of whom were indicted on drug trafficking charges. The pair pleaded not guilty. Maduro claimed he’d been “kidnapped” and was a “prisoner of war” at a court appearance in New York this week.

On Thursday, Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, announced that the government would release a significant number of foreign and Venezuelan prisoners. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares later said five Spanish prisoners had been released and were on a flight back to their home country.

Since Maduro’s ousting, Trump has turned his attention to oil-rich Venezuela’s energy resources, saying shortly after the operation took place that he had been in talks with oil giants about rebuilding the country’s oil infrastructure.

In his post on Friday, Trump said at least $100 billion will be invested in Venezuela by “Big Oil,” noting that he will meet with representatives for U.S. oil giants at the White House later on Friday.

Chevron

is currently the only oil major operating in Venezuela, and U.S. Oil majors have so far been largely silent on Trump’s push for their participation in rebuilding the country’s energy systems.

Venezuela, a founding member of the powerful OPEC energy coalition, sits on 303 billion barrels of crude oil, according to the U.S. Energy Information Management. That represents around 17% of the world’s oil reserves — but it’s currently thought to produce less than 1% of global oil output, and exports only half of what it makes.

On Tuesday, Trump said Venezuelan officials would give the U.S. up to 50 million barrels of oil, which will be sold at market prices.

“That money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Trump said at the time. Sources close to the White House later told CNBC that Venezuela will ship sanctioned oil to the U.S. indefinitely.

Washington:

President Donald Trump said the US will maintain supervision of Venezuela “much longer” than a year and his own judgment is the only limit to his global power, according to a New York Times interview published on Thursday.

When asked by the Times if Washington’s supervision of Venezuela would be three months, six months, a year or longer, Trump said: “I would say much longer.”

“Only time will tell,” he added.

Trump ordered the US military on Saturday to seize President Nicholas Maduro, who was brought to stand trial with his wife in New York.

The UN human rights office said the operation was a violation of international law that made the world less safe.

When asked by the newspaper if there were any limitations on his global powers, Trump said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

When pressed further,Trump said his administration needed to obey by international law, but the newspaper said he made clear he would be the arbiter when it applied.

“It depends what your definition of international law is,” he said, according to the newspaper.

The Republican president said the US would rebuild Venezuela “in a very profitable way.”

Trump added the U.S. was “getting along very well” with interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s government. “They’re giving us everything that we feel is necessary,” Trump said.

“We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need,” he said.

Trump on Tuesday unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that had been stuck in Venezuela under US lockdown.

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