The U.S. State Department issued a warning on Saturday, Jan. 10, advising all U.S. citizens in Venezuela to leave the country immediately. “There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. Remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by road,” the statement reads. A U.S. diplomatic team had arrived in Caracas on Jan. 9 to initiate discussions with the Venezuelan government.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry responded promptly, denying the danger. In a social media post late on Jan. 10, they say that the State Department’s security alert is “based on fabricated accounts aimed at creating a perception of risk that does not exist.” They said that Venezuela is “in absolute calm, peace, and stability,” and that all weapons are in the government’s control.
Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov said on the air with Solovyov Live television on Jan. 10 that, “In fact, the current situation in the country is quite stable, the authorities confidently control public order.”
A day earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had written on Truth Social: “I have canceled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks [on Venezuela], which looks like it will not be needed; however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security.” He added that the Venezuelan government had released “large numbers of political prisoners,” which he called “a very important and smart gesture.”
The Delcy Rodríguez government said this had been done as a gesture “to seek peace.”
