The United States is pursuing the extradition of Alex Saab, a billionaire businessman and ally of detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, from Venezuela. Saab, 54, was detained in early February at Washington's request, marking a significant test of the Trump administration's influence over Venezuela's new leadership under Delcy Rodríguez.

Saab faces a sealed indictment on corruption charges filed in Miami in January, following Maduro's capture by U.S. Special Forces. The businessman previously spent nearly two years in U.S. prison on money-laundering charges before being pardoned by the Biden administration in 2021. He was returned to Venezuela in a 2023 prisoner swap that included 10 Americans.

Venezuelan investigative reports indicate Saab secured contracts worth over $10 billion between 2013 and 2020 through companies in Panama, Hong Kong, Mexico, Turkey, and the UAE. His case has become politically charged, with some suggesting the renewed pursuit aims to strengthen the case against Maduro while others view it as an attempt to undermine Democrats. The extradition negotiations are reportedly in an advanced phase, though no final decision has been made.