By Erin Banco
Jan 16 (Reuters) - CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Venezuela's interim leader in Caracas to discuss cooperation, a U.S. official said on Friday, in the most senior known visit by a U.S. official since the United States toppled President Nicolas Maduro this month.
Ratcliffe met on Thursday with Delcy Rodriguez at the direction of President Donald Trump, "to deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship," the official said.
They discussed intelligence
cooperation, economic stability and the need to ensure Venezuela was no longer a "safe haven for America's adversaries, especially narco-traffickers".
The visit took place the same day that Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump at the White House.
Since sending troops to seize Maduro, Washington has held back from saying the opposition should take power, despite having previously said Machado's ally rightfully won an election in 2024.
Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Maduro, took over the presidency on an interim basis after the U.S. military seized Maduro and flew him to the United States to stand trial for drug charges.
Trump spoke with Rodriguez by phone on Wednesday, with the two leaders each separately describing the call as positive.
Rodriguez has previously criticized the Trump administration for "kidnapping" Maduro and called for his return. However, Washington has said she is favorable as an interim leader to preserve stability.
The U.S. official said the two-hour Ratcliffe meeting was focused on building trust between the U.S. and Venezuela.
"The director made clear Venezuela can no longer provide support to drug traffickers like TDA," the official said, referring to Tren de Aragua, a criminal gang.
The New York Times first reported the Ratcliffe trip. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Erin Banco in New York; Additional reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Alison Williams and Peter Graff)
