The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, met this Friday with Dinorah Figuera, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly elected in 2015, at the Department of State in Washington, and stated on his X account that he looks forward to "continuous progress that leads to lasting democratic change for the Venezuelan people."
It was the first formal meeting between the two, taking place within the framework of the dialogue process between the Venezuelan opposition and the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez, initiated by Washington following Operation Absolute Resolution—the military incursion that culminated with the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026.
Rubio described the meeting as a "productive gathering" and emphasized that "tangible progress has been made during the first two rounds of talks with the interim authorities."
In front of the press, the Secretary of State was more explicit about the White House's support: "This effort has our backing, from the highest levels of the U.S. government, and I think it's important to focus on that."
Rubio also clarified what the ultimate goal of the process is: “Not simply free and democratic elections as soon as possible, because that is undoubtedly necessary, but a democracy, a republic that can govern the country and exist permanently.”
In my meeting with @DinorahFiguera, I reaffirmed our unwavering support for her and her team at the highest levels of our government. The head of U.S. diplomacy announced that the third round of negotiations will begin on October 14, with an agenda that includes finalizing the selection of the Supreme Court of Justice, advancing the reform of the National Electoral Council, strengthening political freedoms, and preparing for electoral reform.
Figuera, who returned to Venezuela in August after nearly eight years of exile in Spain to lead the discussions, thanked Washington for the investments made in the Venezuelan oil sector since Maduro's capture, and described the dialogue as "the way and the roadmap for elections" and a "feasible process."
One of the tension elements looming over the negotiations is the absence of María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has been outside Venezuela since December 2025 and is not participating in the negotiating table.
Machado attempted to return from Panama three times unsuccessfully in September 2026, according to her team. Her spokesperson indicated at the beginning of October that the leader would be willing to negotiate directly with Delcy Rodríguez if the process leads to free elections.
The dialogue process was formally established on August 7 at the La Carlota airbase in Caracas, with Jorge Rodríguez leading the government delegation, and has already resulted in a significant initial agreement between the parties.
Rubio, a Cuban-American from Miami, is simultaneously managing the pressure on the regime in Havana. On September 29, he stated on Fox News that "the Cuban regime has already fallen" in functional terms, although he warned that, unlike Venezuela, Cuba "has not sought agreements."
"Looking forward to the upcoming round of talks starting on October 14, I look forward to ongoing progress that leads to lasting democratic change for the Venezuelan people," Rubio wrote at the conclusion of the meeting with Figuera.
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