by Humeyra Pamuk and Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Venezuela on Saturday released seven Americans, including five oil executives, in exchange for the release of two close associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, U.S. officials said.
The US nationals were swapped for two of Nicolas Maduro’s wife’s nephews, jailed in the US on drug charges, officials said.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that the “wrongfully detained” Americans “will soon be with their families and back in the arms of their loved ones, where they belong.”
“Today we celebrate seven families being reunited again. To all the families who are still hurting and separated from their wrongfully detained loved ones, know that we remain committed to securing their release,” said Joe Biden. .
This release follows secret talks between the United States and the government of Nicolas Maduro, which is subject to severe American sanctions.
It comes at a time when Washington is under strong pressure to secure the release of dozens of Americans detained abroad, including in Russia.
(Humeyra Pamuk and Matt Spetalnick; French version Nicolas Delame)
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