The New York Times quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that the Russian attack on Ukraine prompted the United States to pay more attention to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s allies in Latin America.
Spokespeople for the administrations of US President Joe Biden and Maduro did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment on the visit and its purpose.
The United States cut diplomatic ties with Venezuela after Maduro’s re-election in 2018, amid accusations of election fraud.
According to the New York Times, the current visit of senior officials in the US State Department and the White House to Caracas is also linked to an assumed interest from Washington in resuming the purchase of oil from Venezuela, instead of the quantities it is currently buying from Russia.