The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the meeting held the day before between President Donald Trump and the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, as “brief but important.”
In response to questions from journalists at a press conference, the head of U.S. diplomacy outlined the three key areas that focused the meeting: the restructuring of Venezuelan sovereign debt, economic stabilization, and the political transition towards free and fair elections.
The meeting, held on Tuesday at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel during a reception with foreign leaders as part of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, was the first between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in over eleven years, according to the agency EFE.
The White House described it as an informal meeting, while Rodríguez referred to it on her social media as "historic".
Rubio warned that Venezuela has been facing almost two decades of economic and institutional destruction, exacerbated by the recent earthquake, and that the country carries "probably the largest sovereign debt in the world," the restructuring of which he deemed "essential" before calling any electoral process.
Regarding the political transition, the head of U.S. diplomacy stated that the process is already underway: leaders of the 2015 National Assembly are holding regular discussions with interim authorities to rebuild the necessary institutions.
Rubio outlined the essential prerequisites: freedom of the media, reconstruction of political parties, and an electoral system with credible authorities.
In this regard, he highlighted a fact he described as "underreported": in the last two weeks, several independent Venezuelan media outlets that had been banned for nearly seven years resumed broadcasting in the country.
He also pointed out that many opposition leaders remain abroad and need to be able to reorganize as political movements, not just as protest movements: "It's not just about María Corina, a very brave woman; there are other people who are also outside the country."
Rubio was explicit about the ultimate goal: "We not only want free and fair elections, but also a lasting republic. What would threaten a lasting republic in Venezuela would be someone being elected and inheriting an absolute economic and social catastrophe."
The statements are part of the three-phase plan for Venezuela —stabilization, recovery, and transition— that Rubio introduced in January 2026 following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
The process, however, is surrounded by controversy: at the end of August, Trump announced a historic oil agreement with Venezuela that grants Washington a 35% stake in 17 oil fields with estimated reserves of 65 billion barrels, channeled through the private company North American Blue Energy Partners.
The agreement generated backlash from opposition sectors and Republican congressmen who question whether Washington is prioritizing oil over democratization. María Corina Machado expressed "sadness and anger" and argued that a regime without democratic legitimacy cannot compromise the country's oil heritage.
Rubio also recalled that there are 8 million Venezuelans abroad who wish to return, but they need "confidence" that they will be able to live, invest, and develop their lives in their country.
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