President Donald Trump has called off a second round of military strikes on Venezuela, signaling a shift in U.S. strategy toward the troubled South American nation.
On Friday, January 9, 2026, Trump announced the cancellation of the planned strikes, citing improved cooperation with Venezuela’s interim government following the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro a week earlier, while the U.S. continues to maintain a strong presence to stabilize the country and secure access to its oil resources.
The decision has sparked debate over U.S. foreign policy, with supporters praising the move as a pragmatic step and critics questioning the long-term implications of American control over Venezuelan affairs.
According to the Daily Caller, the timeline of events began with the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s arrest just a week before the announcement.
Days before Friday, Trump had warned that additional strikes could occur if the new Venezuelan leadership failed to align with U.S. interests.
Yet, in a surprising pivot, Trump took to Truth Social on January 9, 2026, to declare that cooperation had improved, particularly on rebuilding critical oil and gas infrastructure.
“The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump posted on Truth Social. That’s a rosy picture, but let’s not forget the U.S. is keeping naval assets parked nearby, just in case the honeymoon sours.
With Trump also announcing a $100 billion investment from major oil companies and securing up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil earlier in the week, it’s clear where the priorities lie—energy over ideology.
After Maduro’s removal, the Trump administration opted to support Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader, sidelining opposition figure María Corina Machado.
This choice, based on intelligence suggesting regime insiders would provide stability, raises eyebrows—why not back the opposition voice that’s fought so hard against tyranny? Trump’s quip that Machado “doesn’t have the support” feels like a convenient dodge.
Still, a meeting with Machado is slated for next week, with Trump noting, “I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her.”
On the domestic front, the Senate narrowly advanced a bipartisan resolution on January 8, 2026, to block future military actions in Venezuela without congressional approval, though its fate in the House remains uncertain.
While Trump touts cooperation, including the release of political prisoners as confirmed by Venezuela’s National Assembly head Jorge Rodríguez, the U.S. maintaining indefinite control over the country feels like a slippery slope.
Canceling strikes is a win for diplomacy today, but with naval forces lingering and oil deals dominating the conversation, one has to wonder if this is truly about Venezuelan freedom—or just a well-played business move.