After several months in Venezuelan custody, U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair was released Tuesday and handed over to President Donald Trump’s diplomatic envoy, Richard Grenell, in a deal that could help oil giant Chevron continue operations in the South American country for another two months, according to media reports.
St. Clair, a combat veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan, was detained in Venezuela in November. He had reportedly traveled to the region seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. His release was confirmed by both his family and Venezuelan officials, including Caracas-based Information Minister Freddy Nazareth Ñáñez, who said the handover took place on the Caribbean island of Antigua.
“This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” said St. Clair’s parents, Scott and Patti, in a family statement. Earlier this month, Scott St. Clair told the Associated Press that his son worked as a language specialist and had been seeking to manage lingering trauma from his military service.
The U.S. government had previously designated St. Clair’s detention as wrongful. His release marks another high-profile development in a series of back-channel negotiations led by Grenell, who has remained an unofficial envoy for President Donald Trump on Latin American affairs. Grenell’s meeting in Antigua reportedly involved Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly and a key figure in President Nicolás Maduro’s inner circle.
Neither the U.S. State Department nor the White House has officially commented on the deal. However, reports from Bloomberg and Reuters suggest that Grenell’s talks also included discussions on the renewal of a critical U.S. license permitting Chevron to operate in Venezuela.
That license is currently set to expire on May 27, but sources indicate it may now be extended by 60 days — an apparent diplomatic concession aimed at easing tensions and fostering future cooperation.
St. Clair’s release follows the February return of six other American detainees held in Venezuela since the country’s contested July presidential election. Those individuals were freed shortly after Grenell’s visit to Caracas, during which he urged Maduro’s government to repatriate Venezuelan nationals deported from the U.S. for criminal offenses.
Grenell, who previously served as acting Director of National Intelligence under Trump, has remained active in international diplomacy, often focusing on complex negotiations involving detainees and sanctions relief.
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