Source : BRICS NEWS
WASHINGTON, November 3, 2026 – The United States and Venezuela are negotiating a military agreement that could lay the legal groundwork for a long-term American troop presence in the South American country, according to a New York Times report published on Tuesday.
BRICS News highlighted the report in a post on X, saying: “US and Venezuela discuss military agreement that could establish a long-term American troop presence in the country.”
The talks, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s State Department, centre on a status of forces agreement, or SOFA, which sets out the legal rules for US troops operating in a host country. Officials said the number of troops and the locations where they might be stationed would be decided in later agreements. State Department officials formally briefed some congressional aides on the negotiations in late October. On Monday Mr Rubio met Venezuela’s new Foreign Minister, Oliver Blanco, in Washington, where they discussed reconciliation talks among the country’s political factions, possible future elections and the potential release of political prisoners. The State Department’s summary of that meeting did not mention a military agreement, Anadolu Agency, which said the guidance urges citizens to prepare for the first 72 hours of emergencies.
The State Department said it has negotiated SOFAs with more than 100 countries and that the 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.” Asked about permanent bases, an official described the idea as “way, way down the road”, adding that there were no current talks on the matter. At present the US Embassy in Caracas, which recently resumed operations after being shut for seven years, has one full-time military attaché and a handful of Marines. A former US official told the Times that poor infrastructure and nearly a decade without engagement between the two militaries would make any deployment challenging.
Relations between Washington and Caracas have been transformed since US forces seized former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3. Venezuela is now led by Delcy Rodríguez. About 2,000 troops from US Southern Command arrived in the country for earthquake relief in June and have since left. On Monday, President Donald Trump referred in a Washington speech to “our conquest of Venezuela”. The Times noted that the anti-American ideology known as Chavismo still has support among 10 to 20 per cent of Venezuelans, according to experts, and that the sight of US troops could fuel anger among many citizens.
Security cooperation is already deepening. Four US officials told the New York Times that a deadly Venezuelan military attack on Friday, October 30, against a site linked to Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) in Apure state was carried out with American intelligence and drone support, the newspaper reported. The ELN, which has about 6,000 fighters, is heavily involved in drug trafficking. BRICS News described the operation in a separate post as US help for deadly drone strikes on Colombian drug traffickers.
Venezuelan rights group Fundaredes said at least 23 people were killed. Its coordinator, Juan Francisco García, said not all of the victims were fighters. A senior Venezuelan military official confirmed that the armed forces carried out the attack, while the drone used was of a type typically operated by US forces. The Pentagon and the State Department deflected questions, and Colombian officials denied any role.
The developments come amid a broader US military campaign against drug trafficking in the region. US strikes on suspected drug boats have killed 244 people, according to the Times, and Quartz reported that MQ-9 drones have been moved from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador.
Source: BRICS News on X
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