By Ayomide Otitoju
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, is set to visit the United States, a senior White House official confirmed Wednesday, marking a major shift in relations between Washington and Caracas. Rodriguez would be the first sitting Venezuelan president to visit the U.S. in over 25 years outside of United Nations meetings in New York.
Rodriguez said she approaches dialogue with the U.S. “without fear,” aiming to address differences through diplomacy. She has also begun reorganising Venezuela’s military leadership, appointing 12 senior officers to regional commands.
As U.S. warships remain off the Venezuelan coast, Rodriguez has allowed the sale of Venezuelan oil brokered by the United States, facilitated foreign investment, and released dozens of political prisoners. No official date has been set for the visit.
The last bilateral visit by a Venezuelan president to the U.S. occurred in the 1990s, before Hugo Chavez came to power. Successive governments since then have largely shunned Washington, aligning with China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia.
Analysts say Rodriguez’s U.S. visit may spark tensions within her government, where hardliners oppose engagement with Washington. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello denied claims of meeting U.S. officials ahead of Maduro’s ouster, calling the reports a “campaign.”
President Donald Trump has signalled support for Rodriguez’s government, prioritising U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil reserves. The move contrasts with his previous engagement with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose party is widely seen to have won the 2024 elections allegedly stolen by Maduro.
Political analysts suggest Trump’s cautious approach avoids the risks of military intervention, citing lessons from Iraq, though democracy activists have criticised the policy, calling for the release of all political prisoners and fresh elections in Venezuela.
