Venezuela’s Interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, has confirmed that her government is engaging in open dialogue with the United States “without any fear,” marking a remarkable turnaround in bilateral relations. Speaking publicly on January 21, 2026, Rodríguez emphasized a commitment to addressing longstanding differences through diplomacy rather than confrontation. A senior US official separately announced that Rodríguez will soon make an official visit to Washington—the first by a sitting Venezuelan president in over 25 years, excluding UN General Assembly appearances in New York.

The development follows a stunning chain of events: US Delta Force operatives removed former president Nicolás Maduro from power in a swift operation, transporting him to the United States to face narcotrafficking charges. Rodríguez, previously Maduro’s vice president and a key figure in Venezuela’s socialist government, assumed the interim presidency and quickly pivoted toward cooperation with Washington. Despite remaining under US sanctions—including asset freezes—she has permitted American-brokered oil sales, welcomed foreign investment, and overseen the release of numerous political prisoners.

A US naval flotilla continues to patrol off Venezuela’s coast, underscoring the military dimension of the new dynamic. Analysts interpret President Donald Trump’s approach as pragmatic: maintaining much of the existing power structure—including figures like Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López—while securing reliable access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the world’s largest proven holdings. Trump has hosted exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House and expressed openness to her future involvement, though he appears reluctant to pursue aggressive regime change that could mirror past US interventions in Iraq.

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The impending visit highlights Trump’s preference for stability and energy security over democratic overhaul. While democracy advocates criticize the arrangement for not demanding full prisoner releases or new elections, experts note that Rodríguez’s position remains delicate internally, with hardliners wary of perceived concessions to “hemispheric imperialism.” The trip, once confirmed by Caracas, could further solidify this uneasy partnership centered on oil and pragmatic diplomacy.

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