Operation Southern Spear and Venezuela Crisis

Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, made an unannounced Feb. 18 visit to Caracas — the first U.S. military delegation since the Jan. 3 operation that captured Nicolás Maduro — accompanied by Ambassador Laura F. Dogu and Acting Assistant Secretary Joseph M. Humire to meet interim authorities including Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The parties discussed implementing President Trump’s three‑phase plan for Venezuela, focusing on stabilization and coordination on counter‑drug, counter‑terrorism and migration measures, with Venezuelan officials saying the talks reaffirmed diplomacy and shared regional security objectives.