Trump abandons second strike on Venezuela as ‘big oil’ eyes $100B deal and notorious prisons close

Trump’s comments come hours after he indicated in an interview ‌on Fox News’ ‘Hannity’ program that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was visiting Washington next ‌week, after previously dismissing the idea of working with her, saying that “she doesn’t have the support or the respect within ‍the country”.

These developments came days after US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transferred him to New York to face drug trafficking charges, leading to political and diplomatic shifts in Venezuela.

 ‘To free significant number of prisoners’

Venezuelan authorities confirmed that they had begun releasing detainees long described by human rights groups as political prisoners, reported BBC.

Jorge Rodríguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said on state television that the interim administration would free “a significant number” of prisoners immediately. He did not name those released or specify how many would walk free.

Spain’s foreign ministry later said that five of its nationals had been released, offering the first official confirmation that the process had begun.

Human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of political prisoners remain in Venezuelan detention facilities, with only a limited number released so far.

First confirmed release

Rocío San Miguel, a Venezuelan-Spanish defence analyst and human rights activist, is the first political prisoner whose release was confirmed by family members and diplomats, BBC reported.

Authorities arrested San Miguel in 2024 and accused her of involvement in a plot to assassinate the president. Prosecutors charged her with treason, conspiracy and terrorism. Her detention drew scrutiny after officials refused to disclose her whereabouts, leading the UN Human Rights Office to raise concerns.

Her family told US media that officials transferred her to the Spanish embassy in Caracas following her release.

Pressure on detention centres

Trump also said that he had ordered the closure of El Helicoide, a detention centre in Caracas that holds dozens of political detainees.

Rights groups estimate that between 50 and 80 prisoners remain inside the facility. They have documented allegations of torture and abuse at the site over several years.

Venezuelan rights group Provea said the closure of one prison would not address detentions across the broader system and urged authorities to release all political prisoners.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has several allies in jail, has continued to demand wider releases. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump said Machado would visit the United States next week.

Venezuela’s government has long denied holding political prisoners, arguing that detainees face prosecution for criminal offences. Opposition leaders and rights groups dispute that claim and say arrests target dissent.

Trump’s decision to halt further attacks now hinges on whether the releases continue and talks with Caracas hold.