A US citizen, Joseph St Clair, has been released from custody in Venezuela and transferred to the US after being detained for nearly six months. St Clair’s family confirmed his release on Tuesday, saying, “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.”
US President Donald Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, negotiated St Clair’s release with Venezuelan officials on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Grenell credited St Clair’s freedom to Trump’s “America First” platform, saying, “Joe St. Clair is back in America. I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy. This is only possible because [Trump] puts Americans first.”
According to reports, Grenell discussed St Clair’s case with Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly and an ally of President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration’s efforts to secure St Clair’s release may be linked to a potential deal to extend a license for the US oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela. The license was set to expire on May 27, and an extension would likely require approval from the US Department of State and the US Treasury.
Venezuela has been experiencing an economic crisis, and the country relies heavily on oil as the pillar of its economy. The US has previously imposed sanctions on Venezuela, but Trump’s administration has signaled a willingness to negotiate with Maduro. In January, Trump sent Grenell to meet with Maduro in person in Caracas, and Grenell returned with six Americans who had previously been imprisoned in Venezuela.
St Clair’s family said that the military veteran was a language specialist who was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in South America. The circumstances surrounding his detention and release are not entirely clear, but his family’s statement suggests that they are relieved and grateful for his return.