Conflicting Diplomatic Efforts Leave American and Venezuelan Detainees Imprisoned

Efforts by the U.S. government to secure the release of American and Venezuelan detainees were hindered by conflicting diplomatic approaches between different U.S. officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump's envoy to Venezuela, Richard Grenell, were working on separate deals to exchange prisoners, but their efforts were not coordinated, leading to a monthslong divide over how to approach Venezuela. As a result, the approximately 250 Venezuelan migrants who were deported to El Salvador remain imprisoned, and the White House is not willing to extend Chevron's license in Venezuela, a vital source of revenue for the authoritarian government.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration's top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and President Trump's envoy to Venezuela, Richard Grenell, were working on separate deals to exchange prisoners, but their efforts were not coordinated.
• The deal led by the State Department, which involved releasing 11 U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents in exchange for the release of about 80 Venezuelan political prisoners, was not finalized due to the conflicting efforts of Rubio and Grenell.
• Grenell worked on a separate deal that would have allowed Chevron to continue its oil operations in Venezuela in exchange for releasing American prisoners.
• The lack of coordination between Rubio and Grenell left Venezuelan officials unclear about who spoke for Trump, ultimately leading to both American and Venezuelan detainees being imprisoned.
• The exchange arranged by the State Department was set to take place in late May, but it was never finalized.
• Senior Trump administration officials view Grenell as a valuable player in the administration, despite some saying he moved too fast and without necessary buy-in.
• The Venezuelan and Salvadoran governments did not provide comment for this article.
• The relatives of some Americans detained in Venezuela expressed frustration over the failure of efforts to win their freedom, stating that different negotiators were saying opposing things, leading to a lack of coordination.

Statistics:

• Approximately 250 Venezuelan migrants who were deported to El Salvador remain imprisoned.
• 11 U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents were to be released in exchange for the release of about 80 Venezuelan political prisoners.
• 85 people with foreign citizenship are wrongfully detained in Venezuela, according to the Venezuelan watchdog group Foro Penal.
• In January, Grenell secured the release of six Americans, but many more U.S. citizens and permanent residents remain in Venezuelan custody or were recently captured.
• The State Department deal included stern warnings suggesting severe consequences if more prisoners were taken after the swap.

Sources:

• "The New York Times" article by Isabel Kershner, published on October 12, 2020, without date information in the original text.
• Interviews with two U.S. officials and two other people familiar with the talks, who sought anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
• Statement by Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary.
• Article by Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president, on social media in late April.
• Email from Richard Grenell to The New York Times.
• Reports by Foro Penal, a Venezuelan watchdog group.