Qatar’s Mediation Triumph: U.S. Applauds Role in Venezuelan Prisoner Exchange

Lauding Qatar’s role in mediating between the United States and Venezuela over the past two years, the U.S. administration celebrated the Wednesday agreement resulting in a prisoner exchange between the two sides.

According to a high-ranking official in President Joe Biden’s administration, expressed gratitude for Qatar’s facilitation of talks between Venezuelan authorities and U.S. officials, paving the way for competitive elections in 2024 and the rightful return of detained Americans.

U.S. officials announced on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached between the United States and Venezuela, involving the release of 10 American prisoners in exchange for a close associate of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In a statement, President Biden confirmed the return of the 10 Americans to their homeland.

Earlier reports indicated that Washington would release businessman Alex Saab, accused of money laundering for Maduro. The Venezuelan government, according to a senior source, would release 36 individuals, including 12 Americans, in return for the U.S. government freeing one of Maduro’s allies.

The source further specified that among those released are 20 Venezuelans associated with the opposition, detained for some time, and 4 others who either participated in the campaign of opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado or were involved in organizing opposition primaries held last October.