US, Venezuela exchange prisoners for greater security – The Organization for World Peace

On December 20, 2023, U.S. President Biden and Venezuelan President Maduro brokered a mutually beneficial prisoner exchange. The exchange brought back to the U.S. 20 U.S. citizens wrongfully held in Venezuela, while Biden extradited Leonard Glenn Francis “Fat Leonard” and Alex Saab, high-stakes prisoners who both had significant interests in Venezuela. The identities of most of the U.S. detainees were withheld for protection, but two U.S. Army Special Forces members, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, were detained. Denman and Berry were captured in 2020 after President Trump led a failed attempt to overthrow the Maduro government. The release of wrongfully held U.S. citizens around the world has been a major initiative of the Biden administration and has proven to be the largest release of U.S. citizens from Venezuela ever. This deal was coupled with Biden’s easing of sanctions on Venezuela and Maduro’s agreement to provide clear paths to democratic elections in Venezuela in 2024.

Reuters quotes Maduro as saying that the move “marks a step toward new diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States.” The United States has had significantly strained diplomatic and economic ties with Venezuela since 2017, when it imposed 350 sanctions on the country over government corruption.

This series of agreements between Biden and Maduro marked a revolutionary truce between the two countries. Generations of American presidents have attempted to combat corruption throughout Venezuela, but none have been successful. This agreement differs from past ones because Biden has transparently laid out his expectations for Maduro, including timelines and consequences if those commitments are not met. Additionally, Biden and Maduro have demonstrated good faith in each other through a prisoner exchange. Some members of Congress opposed this, arguing that Biden was gambling with the lives of American citizens against an unreliable opponent, but the success of this venture bodes well for the rest of the agreement.

Historically, the US has sought to support Venezuela in overcoming dictatorships that have devastated the economy and created humanitarian crises. Since 2017, the US government has provided $2.8 billion in aid to Venezuelans, but the Venezuelan government has been unwilling to adhere to US policies that correspond with this aid, such as drug and gun control. Hugo Chavez and Nicholas Maduro are the most notable opponents. Maduro is currently accused of influencing the most recent Venezuelan presidential election. As of 2019, the US embassy in Venezuela has been closed and all US aid to Venezuela has been channeled through the Venezuela Affairs Unit at the Colombian embassy in Bogota, Colombia. Despite domestic and international calls for a restoration of democracy in Venezuela, Maduro continues to consolidate power and the state of the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.

There is some concern within the US that this move will inadvertently encourage hostage-taking. However, Maduro has already begun allowing opposition candidates for his 2024 race to appeal their election bans. While the outcome of these appeals remains to be seen, this is further than Maduro has ever gone in enshrining free and fair elections in Venezuela. Additionally, arrest warrants for personnel arrested for their ties to opposition candidates are being dropped, so it is clear that Maduro is adhering to Biden’s directive that ties in with the easing of US sanctions. This will work to increase stability in the region and the country, and promote democracy and peace in a country that has not had either luxuries for decades.