US President Donald Trump has met Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, in New York, marking a significant development in relations between Washington and Caracas following the removal of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
The two leaders met at a Manhattan hotel on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Rodríguez described the encounter as “historic”, saying they discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in energy, mining, security and other areas.
The meeting comes after Venezuela and the United States agreed a major oil arrangement covering 65 billion barrels. Trump has described it as the largest oil deal in history, while his administration has increasingly focused on securing access to Venezuela’s substantial energy resources.
Senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also attended the meeting. Rodríguez is seeking greater international legitimacy for her interim government after years of diplomatic isolation under Maduro.
The Venezuelan leader did not indicate whether she would visit Maduro, who remains in US custody following his capture in January.
Rodríguez is expected to address the UN General Assembly, where Venezuela’s political transition, economic recovery and relations with the United States are likely to remain major issues.
The encounter signals a new phase in US-Venezuela relations, with energy, mining and security emerging as central areas of cooperation.
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