Venezuela on Friday released six detained US citizens following a meeting with US special envoy Richard Grenell and President Nicolas Maduro.
US President Donald Trump had dispatched Grenell to Caracas to warn Maduro of the consequences he would face should he not unconditionally accept the return of Venezuelans deported from the US.
Grenell previously served as the US ambassador to Germany.
"We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens. They just spoke to Donald Trump and they couldn't stop thanking him," Grenell posted on social media.
Grenell and the Venezuelan leader met at the Miraflores presidential palace where Maduro stressed the meeting had "zero agenda" and that he sought a "new beginning in bilateral relations" with the US, a government statement said.
Not known how many Americans jailed in Venezuela
The return of jailed US citizens was among the key issues discussed.
It is not known just how many Americans are currently in Venezuelan jails, though officials there have spoken of at least nine. These are generally labeled "terrorists" or "mercenaries" by Caracas.
The Venezuelan government regularly accuses the opposition of working with the CIA to plan attacks and coups, something the US has denied.
"All I would do on this call is urge the Maduro government — the Maduro regime — in Venezuela, to heed to Special Envoy Ric Grenell and to his demands and what he puts on the table, because ultimately, there will be consequences otherwise," said the US special envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Carone.
In 2023, Caracas released 10 American prisoners in exchange for Washington returning a Maduro ally jailed in the US.
Source: DW
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