Chief of US Southern Command on visit to Venezuela: embassyCARACAS, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The chief of the US military command responsible for strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats off South America, visited Venezuela Wednesday and held talks with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez and her top ministers, its government said. US Southern Command (SOUTCHOM) chief General Francis Donovan met with Rodriguez as well as Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a government account posted on X. The visit follows last month's ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a deadly US military operation. It said Donovan met US military personnel who guard embassy facilities and then members of the interim government "to assess the security situation." Interim leader Rodriguez, who had been Maduro's vice president, took over with Trump's consent, provided she grants access to Venezuela's vast oil resources.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 19, 2026 03:52 UTC