Venezuela and US Reach Agreement to Resume Repatriation Flights After Deportation Dispute

Venezuela and the United States have reached an agreement to resume repatriation flights for deported Venezuelan nationals. The first flight is scheduled to depart on Sunday, according to Venezuelan officials. This agreement follows a dispute over the U.S. deporting over 200 Venezuelans to a high-security prison in El Salvador, a move Caracas condemned as "kidnapping." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had suspended the flights on March 8 after accusing the U.S. of failing to meet its commitments. The situation escalated after the U.S. government moved against Chevron, suspending its license to export Venezuelan oil. Washington claims the deportees belong to the Tren de Aragua gang, a designated foreign terrorist organization, a claim Venezuela denies. A U.S. judge temporarily blocked further deportations after some flights had already departed.