Claver-Carone Shapes $170 Billion Venezuela Debt Push Without Official U.S. Role
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 25
Claver-Carone Shapes $170 Billion Venezuela Debt Push Without Official U.S. Role
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 25
Mauricio Claver-Carone, 51, has become a central backchannel in post-Maduro Venezuela, relaying Washington’s instructions to interim president Delcy Rodríguez and other Caracas officials despite holding no government job.
Jan. 3 calls after Maduro’s capture showed his reach: he joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio in talks with Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez as the administration pressed its three-phase plan for stability, recovery and political transition.
More than 10 officials and other sources said he has also influenced commercial decisions as oil flows resume, including backing Centerview Partners for work on restructuring Venezuela’s $170 billion debt.
That role has triggered oversight and conflict-of-interest concerns inside and outside the State Department, which was largely sidelined while the White House ran Venezuela policy; the department said he is not acting on behalf of the U.S. government.
Claver-Carone says his liaison role is now winding down as the reopened U.S. Embassy expands, but his prominence underscores how tightly Trump’s team has fused diplomacy, security and business in Venezuela.
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Venezuela’s $170 Billion Debt Restructuring: Unprecedented Challenges, Political Upheaval, and the Battle for Economic Recovery (2026)
Overview
In May 2026, Venezuela launched an ambitious plan to restructure its massive sovereign debt after nearly a decade of default triggered by U.S. sanctions that shut the country out of financial markets. This move led to a rally in Venezuela’s international bonds, reflecting renewed investor optimism. The restructuring aims to normalize Venezuela’s debt obligations, but faces immediate hurdles due to the complexity of managing diverse debts and the need for a credible economic framework. The process is shaped by shifting U.S.-Venezuelan relations and ongoing concerns about transparency, governance, and the influence of unofficial actors in the country’s recovery.