00:00This just in, in the last hour, President Trump has given an update on Venezuela, writing on Truth Social, quote,
00:05Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of, quote, seeking peace.
00:11This is a very important and smart gesture.
00:13Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second wave of attacks, which looks like it will not be needed.
00:21Let's over Washington now and speak with Bloomberg's Kasia Klimashinska.
00:25So, Kasia, did we know that there was a second wave of attacks planned for Venezuela?
00:30Well, already a busy Friday here in Washington, D.C., President Trump, as you mentioned, posted on Truth Social just within the last hour.
00:40So we knew that the ships and the armed forces are in the region, that the U.S. is maintaining its posture.
00:47And President Trump says it will remain so, but there wouldn't be the next wave of attacks that he called expected,
00:54because he praised Venezuela for releasing prisoners, calling it a smart step.
00:59So this is another sign that Trump wants to work with this interim government in Venezuela.
01:05In the same Truth Social, President also mentions the meeting that he has with the oil executives here in D.C. today.
01:12That will be at 2.30 p.m. at the White House.
01:15Almost 20 executives coming over to discuss what Trump described as more than $100 billion of investment into Venezuela to boost its energy sector.
01:26Yeah, and from what we gather, it's not just U.S. executives either, Kasia.
01:30It's going to be fascinating.
01:32Just on Venezuela, Trump meeting with opposition leader Maria Carina Machado next week, apparently.
01:38This potentially could signal trouble, no, for Delce Rodriguez?
01:42That was surprising.
01:45Trump mentioned for the first time yesterday in an interview with Fox News that Machado is coming here to D.C. next week,
01:51and he's looking forward to meeting her still.
01:54He has voiced a lot of skepticism about her, and he has said that he himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio
02:01is talking to the current interim president of Venezuela, Delce Rodriguez.
02:06So I think the collaboration will mostly happen with her, especially as, again, Trump really wants to rebuild this oil sector in Venezuela.
02:13He wants to send the U.S. international companies there and start pumping that oil.
Comments