US President Donald Trump announced on Friday, January 9, 2026, the cancellation of a previously planned second wave of military strikes on Venezuela. This decision came after US forces had captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, following an initial military operation in Caracas. Trump cited Venezuela's "cooperation" as the reason for halting further attacks, specifically mentioning the release of political prisoners and ongoing discussions regarding significant oil investments in the nation. Venezuelan authorities confirmed they had begun releasing a "large number" of detainees, including opposition figures, activists, journalists, and five Spanish nationals, some of whom had been imprisoned on charges like treason and terrorism. This move was framed by Venezuela as a gesture "seeking peace" and came at the request of the United States. However, human rights organizations noted that many political prisoners might still remain incarcerated. Concurrently, President Trump met with top US oil executives at the White House, urging them to invest up to $100 billion in Venezuela's vast oil reserves. Trump assured these companies of "total safety" under US administration control, distinct from dealing directly with the Venezuelan government. Despite this, some major oil CEOs, including ExxonMobil's Darren Woods, expressed skepticism, deeming Venezuela "uninvestable" without significant reforms due to past asset seizures and the current legal framework. While the immediate military tensions regarding additional strikes eased, US naval forces are to remain deployed in the region for security purposes. The events mark a dramatic escalation and subsequent de-escalation in US-Venezuela relations, with profound implications for the global oil market and regional stability.