General Francis L. Donovan, head of the US Southern Command, visited Venezuela this Wednesday, where he held meetings with interim authorities to address security issues and the “stabilization” of the country, after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in January.
Donovan, proposed for the position by President Donald Trump in December and confirmed by the Senate at the beginning of the year, participated in the meetings with Laura F. Dogu, US charge d’affaires in Venezuela, and Joseph M. Humire, deputy assistant secretary of war for Western Hemisphere Security Affairs, the Southern Command reported on its account on X.
The military entity described the meetings as “productive” and reiterated its commitment to working with partner countries to build “a secure and prosperous future for the hemisphere,” said a report from cnn.
The Southern Command is the entity of the US Armed Forces in charge of supervising military operations in Latin America.
Since September of last year, that structure has led operations in international waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific to stop vessels that, according to Washington, transport drugs.
According to the data released, nearly thirty ships have been destroyed and more than 100 people have died in these actions.
#SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan concluded a visit to Venezuela today, joining Amb. Laura F. Dogu and @jmhumire for productive meetings with Venezuelan interim authorities. The US is committed to a free, safe and prosperous Venezuela for the Venezuelan people, the… pic.twitter.com/Gkd6vjT3VW
— US Southern Command (@Southcom) February 18, 2026
US Southern Command and military intervention in Venezuela
For its part, the United States Embassy in Venezuela indicated that the meetings were held in Caracas and that The objective is to promote “a free, safe and prosperous Venezuela.”
According to the diplomatic representation, the conversations focused on the security environment and the implementation of the three-phase plan promoted by Trump, especially regarding the stabilization of the country and shared security in the Western Hemisphere.
The meetings occur a month and a half after the US military operation that culminated in the capture of Maduroaccused in New York of charges related to drug trafficking and weapons, allegations that the former president rejects.
This military operation was also carried out by the Southern Command under the leadership of Donovan.
The president in charge of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez has criticized the US intervention in Venezuelan territory on several occasions.although he has also expressed his willingness to maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect with Washington.
Last week, Rodríguez received the United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, in Caracas.
In a joint statement, both parties indicated that they are working on a bilateral energy agenda, while the United States has expressed interest in American companies investing in Venezuelan oil exploitation.
Wright thus became the highest-ranking US official to visit Venezuela in almost three decades.
Until now, the Government of the president in charge of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguezhas not commented on the visit of the Head of the Southern Command, the military entity that carried out the bombing in Caracas on January 3 which ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the death of 32 Cuban soldiers linked to the personal security of the Venezuelan president.
Another historic day in which we welcomed the commander of the @SOUTHCOMGeneral Donovan, to Venezuela. In Caracas, General Donovan began by meeting with his team of Joint Force service members, once again surveying the embassy facilities… pic.twitter.com/mjkWmfUlOd
— US Embassy, Venezuela (@usembassyve) February 18, 2026
