Trump Calls Off Planned Second Wave Of Attacks On Venezuela

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has called off a previously anticipated second wave of strikes on Venezuela, citing improved cooperation with the country’s interim government.

The announcement comes just a week after a U.S. operation that resulted in the capture and arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, and days after the president said a second attack was on the table if the new government did not “behave.” In a Truth Social post on Friday, he revealed he has cancelled those strikes, saying the new government is now “working well” with the U.S. on rebuilding its oil and gas infrastructure and releasing “large numbers” of political prisoners.

The president has made clear, however, that the U.S. will maintain control over Venezuela for an undefined, extended period of time until the country is fully stabilized.

“The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump wrote. “Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed.”