Key facts
- Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced at the UN General Assembly that elections will be held as part of a transition to "full democracy."
- Rodríguez stated that talks have begun with the opposition, and all political forces will be guaranteed participation in the electoral process.
- No date was specified for the promised elections.
- Rodríguez was sworn in after Nicolás Maduro was seized by US forces and taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
- US President Donald Trump celebrated the signing of an oil deal with Rodríguez's interim government covering 65 billion barrels of oil.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that elections were discussed and urged patience for a "political transition process."
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced at the UN General Assembly that elections will be held as part of a transition to "full democracy," but did not specify a date. Rodríguez, who was sworn in after her predecessor Nicolás Maduro was seized by US forces and taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges, stated that talks have begun with the opposition and that all political forces will be guaranteed participation in the electoral process.
Speaking at the UN, Rodríguez thanked US President Donald Trump for his "willingness to take the path of diplomatic relations and cooperation," and noted that the two nations were working to resolve differences through dialogue, paving the way for energy relations, security, and economic cooperation. Trump, meanwhile, celebrated the signing of what he called "the largest oil deal in history" with Rodríguez's government, covering 65 billion barrels of oil.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended a meeting between Trump and Rodríguez, said elections were discussed and urged patience for a "political transition process" to rebuild institutions for free and fair elections. He noted that the opposition's prominent leader, María Corina Machado, is not part of the ongoing negotiations and remains barred from standing for office.