State Department negotiates status of forces agreement with Venezuela

The State Department, led by Marco Rubio, is negotiating a status of forces agreement with Venezuela that could allow a long-term U.S. troop presence, the New York Times reported on 4 November, citing U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The State Department said such pacts "promote defense cooperation by providing a clear, predictable legal framework for U.S. forces to work on mutually agreed activities with our security partners, such as ship visits, training, exercises and humanitarian assistance." The number of troops, their locations and the length of any presence would be left to later negotiations, the Times reported.

A senior State Department official said any discussion of permanent military bases is "very, very far away" and that no negotiations are under way on that specific issue, CiberCuba reported, citing the Times.

The State Department said it has negotiated status of forces agreements with more than 100 countries. In some, the United States maintains tens of thousands of troops; in others, only a few advisers or units. The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington did not reply to a request for comment, the Times reported.

Why the talks mark a shift

The talks follow a U.S. campaign of lethal strikes on alleged drug boats that began in September 2025 and the 3 January U.S. military incursion into Venezuela that extracted Nicolás Maduro. The Times described the two countries as former adversaries now attempting to move toward military cooperation. Maduro was taken to a prison in New York, where he faces narcoterrorism charges, CiberCuba reported. Delcy Rodríguez has led Venezuela since then, according to the Times.

In a speech in Washington on Monday, Trump referred to "our conquest of Venezuela," the San Juan Daily Star reported.

Military cooperation already has precedents. In June, Southern Command carried out an airstrike in Bolívar state that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, a founder of Tren de Aragua, with CIA intelligence and Venezuelan forces involved, officials from both countries said. On 30 October, Venezuela attacked an ELN camp in Apure with U.S. intelligence and drone support, leaving at least 23 dead, according to Fundaredes.

What could block a deal

Chavismo, the anti-American ideology tied to Maduro's movement, still has support among 10% to 20% of Venezuelans, including in the military and security agencies, experts told the Times. Those supporters could become vocal opponents of the negotiations. Even outside those ranks, many Venezuelans describe a new form of Western colonialism, especially after Trump's boasts about taking the country's oil, the Times reported. The sight of U.S. troops could fuel that anger.

What happens next

Details including troop numbers and locations would be worked out in future agreements, the Times reported. Rubio met Venezuela's new foreign minister, Oliver Blanco, in Washington on Monday. They discussed reconciliation, possible elections and the release of political prisoners, the State Department said. Its summary did not mention the military agreement.