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Trump meets Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez at UN amid oil deal

First face-to-face since Maduro's seizure; talks cover energy, mining and security

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
President Donald Trump has held talks with Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly—their first meeting since the White House backed her government following the seizure of Nicolás Maduro by US forces. The discussion focused on strategic cooperation in energy, mining and security, according to Rodríguez.

US President Donald Trump met Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez at the UN General Assembly in New York, marking their first face-to-face encounter since the White House endorsed her to lead the South American country. The meeting took place just kilometres from the New York jail where former President Nicolás Maduro is awaiting trial on drug trafficking and other charges after being seized by US forces in a raid on Caracas.

Rodríguez described the talks as covering “advancing a cooperation agenda in strategic areas such as energy, mining, and security”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also attended the meeting, Rodríguez's office confirmed via a post on X alongside a photograph of the group.

The meeting comes weeks after Rodríguez's government signed an agreement granting a US-led company 100-year concessions over 17 oilfields in Venezuela, controlling more than 65 billion barrels of oil—over a fifth of the country's reserves. Trump has previously called it “the biggest oil deal in world history”. During his UN address on Monday, Trump said the US and Venezuela together control “more than 60%” of the world's oil, adding: “To the victor belong the spoils.”

Rodríguez, who served as Maduro's vice-president before being sanctioned by the US in 2018, had those measures lifted in April. She was sworn in as interim president by Venezuela's National Assembly days after the US raid, with the White House's blessing. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has publicly criticised the new government. Rodríguez is due to address the UN on Wednesday.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The meeting formalises US backing for the post-Maduro government and signals a new phase in bilateral relations focused on energy cooperation.
  • The oil deal gives the US substantial control over Venezuela's reserves, reshaping global oil supply dynamics and potentially influencing prices.
  • Maduro's ongoing trial in New York keeps the legal and political stakes high for both governments.

Background

Venezuela has been in political and economic crisis for years under Nicolás Maduro, whose government was widely condemned by Western nations. In 2026, US forces conducted a raid on Caracas and seized Maduro, who now awaits trial on US drug trafficking charges. The US recognised Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president, as interim president after the National Assembly swore her in. The Trump administration subsequently lifted sanctions on Rodríguez and negotiated a landmark oil concession deal.

Key Perspectives

US Administration: President Trump sees the arrangement as a strategic victory, giving the US control over vast oil resources and unseating a rival regime. He has framed it in zero-sum terms (“to the victor belong the spoils”). Venezuelan Interim Government (Rodríguez): Rodríguez emphasises a cooperation agenda and has positioned her government as a willing partner for US energy and security interests, while projecting an image of continuity in Caracas. Critics (e.g., Maria Corina Machado): The Venezuelan opposition has expressed concern over the legitimacy of Rodríguez's government and the terms of the oil deal, which grants century-long concessions to a US-led company. Critics argue it trades long-term sovereignty for short-term political support.

What to Watch

  • Maduro's trial schedule and any testimony that could implicate other Venezuelan officials or affect the legitimacy of the current government.
  • The UN address by Rodríguez on Wednesday, which may signal further diplomatic overtures or reveal tensions.
  • Reactions from other oil-producing nations, particularly OPEC+ members, to the US-Venezuela oil arrangement.

Sources

Zotpaper

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