Reuters: US intelligence doubts Venezuela's new government will cut ties with Russia and Iran

US intelligence reports have raised doubts about whether Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, will cooperate with the US administration Donald Trump officially severing relations with Washington's opponents. This was reported by the agency Reuters, citing four unnamed interlocutors with knowledge of the matter.

U.S. officials have publicly stated that they want the interim president to sever relations with close international allies such as Iran, China, and Russia, including expelling their diplomats and advisors from Venezuela.

However, Rodriguez, whose inauguration ceremony in early January was attended by representatives of these countries, did not announce such a step. She became president after the United States captured Venezuela's dictator Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. intelligence reports say it is unclear whether Rodriguez fully supports the U.S. strategy for his country. Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe visited Caracas on January 15 to discuss the country's political future with Rodriguez. Reuters was unable to determine whether these conversations changed the intelligence community's mind.

Washington wants to limit the influence of its adversaries in the Western Hemisphere, including in Venezuela, where Trump is seeking to tap into its vast oil reserves.

If Rodriguez were to break ties with U.S. rivals, it would open up more opportunities for U.S. investment in Venezuela's energy sector. But the inability to control the interim president could undermine Washington's efforts to remotely control the new government.

The CIA and the Venezuelan government did not respond to requests for comment. An unnamed senior Trump administration official said that the US president "continues to exert maximum influence" on Venezuela's leaders and "expects this cooperation to continue."

The CIA had previously assessed that officials loyal to Maduro, including Rodriguez, were best positioned to run the country after his ouster. But critics of Trump's Venezuela strategy have expressed doubts about the wisdom of keeping the dictator's supporters in office. According to two interlocutors, concerns about Rodriguez's reliability existed even before the US operation.

For Venezuela, the US directive means abandoning its closest allies outside the region. Iran has helped Venezuela repair refineries, while China has taken oil as debt repayment. Russia has supplied the Venezuelan army with weapons, including missiles.

Trump also named communist Cuba as another enemy of the United States that he wants Venezuela to abandon. Havana provided security and intelligence support, while receiving oil from Venezuela at reduced prices.

After Maduro's ouster, Rodriguez, whose deep ties to the oil sector are crucial to maintaining stability in the country, took steps to keep Washington's favor, including releasing political prisoners and allowing oil sales to the United States.

In a speech on Sunday, she said she had "had enough" of US interference. However, according to two interlocutors, U.S. officials have also had positive conversations with her in recent days.

The Trump administration sees no immediate alternative to working with Rodriguez. But American officials are establishing contacts with high-ranking military and other officials.

• On January 3, 2026, Maduro and his wife were grabbed by the U.S. military and taken out of Venezuela. The couple was accused of drug trafficking. On January 5, the trial was held, in which Maduro pleaded not guilty.
• On the same day, Rodriguez officially took the oath as interim head of state.
• On January 9, Trump canceled the second wave of attacks on Venezuela, saying that the country has cooperated.