Qatar PM Arrives in Venezuela on First Trip Since Maduro’s Ouster: What to Know

Why It Matters

Qatar’s mediation could shape the post‑Maduro political settlement and unlock U.S. investment in Venezuela’s oil sector, influencing regional energy markets and geopolitical alignments.

Key Takeaways

• Qatar PM visits Venezuela after US-backed Maduro removal
• Qatar aims to mediate US-Venezuela relations
• US redirects Venezuelan oil revenues from Qatar to Treasury
• Venezuela's oil law invites foreign investment post‑Maduro
• Bilateral trade remains minimal despite diplomatic overtures

Pulse Analysis

The removal of Nicolás Maduro by a U.S. special‑operations raid has upended Venezuela’s political calculus, leaving Vice‑President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. In this volatile environment, Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, landed in Caracas to signal Doha’s willingness to act as a neutral broker. Qatar’s diplomatic outreach builds on its historic ties with Caracas and its broader strategy of mediating conflicts across the Middle East and Latin America, from Gaza to Sudan. The visit underscores Doha’s ambition to shape the next chapter of U.S.–Venezuela relations.

Economically, the United States has taken decisive steps to re‑channel Venezuelan oil proceeds directly to the Treasury, ending the controversial Qatar‑managed account that drew criticism from U.S. lawmakers. At the same time, Washington has eased energy sanctions and Venezuela has passed a law encouraging foreign capital in its beleaguered oil sector. These moves aim to unlock the country’s vast hydrocarbon potential and attract investors wary of political risk. Qatar’s interest in agriculture and broader investment ties could complement this strategy, offering alternative financing and market access for Venezuelan producers.

Beyond the immediate bilateral agenda, Qatar’s mediation could have ripple effects across the region. By positioning itself between a U.S. administration eager to stabilize a key oil supplier and a Venezuelan government seeking legitimacy, Doha may secure a strategic foothold in South American geopolitics. The modest trade volume—just over $300,000 in 2023—suggests that diplomatic breakthroughs, rather than commercial exchange, drive the partnership for now. If successful, Qatar’s role could set a precedent for Gulf states acting as intermediaries in future U.S.–Latin America disputes.

Qatar PM arrives in Venezuela on first trip since Maduro’s ouster: What to know

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Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Venezuela on Tuesday, his first trip to the country since the U.S. raid that removed President Nicolás Maduro in January. The trip comes as Qatar eyes a mediator role between the United States and the new Venezuelan government.

What happened

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil received Sheikh Mohammed at the airport in Caracas, footage from the state broadcaster showed. The official Venezolana de Televisión reported that the visit would focus on bilateral relations, including agriculture and investment. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The visit is Sheikh Mohammed’s first to Venezuela since 2022.

Why it matters

The United States captured Maduro in an early‑morning raid on Jan. 3, leaving his vice‑president, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume power as acting president. The new government has moved to cooperate with the United States, particularly in energy matters, and passed a law later in January to allow more foreign investment in the beleaguered oil sector. Washington eased sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector on Friday with the goal of increasing American investment.

Qatar had expressed “deep concern” about the removal of Maduro while declaring its “full readiness” to work toward a peaceful solution. Since Maduro’s ouster, Doha has sought to act as a broker between the two countries, and Venezuela’s oil revenue was deposited earlier this year into a U.S.-controlled account in Qatar.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC in an interview published Friday that an account at the Treasury Department has since been activated to receive the funds and that the money would no longer go through Qatar. Wright said revenue from Venezuelan oil sales has reached $1 billion since Maduro’s ouster.

The arrangement with Qatar had drawn criticism from Democrats, and Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday warning that the “offshore account could enable corruption.”

Know more

Qatar, a major non‑NATO ally of the United States, seeks to play the role of mediator in a number of conflicts. Along with Egypt and the United States, Qatar brokered the Gaza ceasefire deal last October between Israel and Hamas.

The Gulf state enjoyed friendly ties with Venezuela before Maduro’s fall and hosted Rodríguez for talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sheikh Mohammed last April. Maduro last visited Qatar in 2022.

Despite the diplomatic engagement, economic relations between the two countries are minimal. Venezuela exported just $303,000 worth of goods to Qatar in 2023, most of which was dried legumes. More recent data on the exports or Venezuelan imports from Qatar is not available.

Qatar Airways added a flight route to Caracas in January 2025.