Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim president, has made a remarkable transformation from being a sanctioned deputy of Nicolas Maduro to a significant ally of the U.S. and President Donald Trump. Her recent appearance at the UN General Assembly highlighted this shift, where she engaged with foreign leaders and discussed a cooperation agenda in energy, mining, and security with Trump. This marks a stark contrast to her previous diplomatic isolation.
Rodríguez and Trump held their first face-to-face meeting since Trump backed her to lead Venezuela after American forces captured Maduro. The meeting, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, focused on strengthening bilateral relations. Rodríguez presented U.S. officials with Venezuelan rum and chocolates, and posed for photos, underscoring her efforts to establish a working relationship with Washington.
A major outcome of this new alignment is an agreement granting a U.S.-led company 100-year concessions over 17 Venezuelan oilfields. This deal allows the U.S. to control more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's oil, representing over 20% of the country's reserves. President Trump lauded this as "the biggest oil deal in world history," noting that the U.S. and Venezuela collectively control over 60% of global oil resources.
Critics argue that this rapprochement has sidelined Venezuela's opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, by prioritizing oil and investment deals over demands for free elections. Rodríguez, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018, saw these measures lifted in April. Her government's delegation at the UN also included the vice president of economy, the oil minister, and officials from the state oil company PDVSA, all aiming to make Venezuela appear "investable." Protests in New York during the UN assembly called for elections, highlighting the controversy surrounding the new U.S.-Venezuelan partnership.
Rodríguez's meeting with Trump, held at a five-star hotel in Manhattan, is seen as a crucial step for her to gain international legitimacy after years of Venezuela's diplomatic isolation under Maduro's regime. She expressed her enthusiasm for the "historic meeting" and the discussions about strengthening the bilateral relationship, signaling a new chapter in Venezuela's international standing.
