**Trump Meets Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez at UN General Assembly**
In a significant diplomatic encounter, US President Donald Trump met with Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This meeting marks the first in-person discussions between the two leaders since the US government endorsed Rodríguez's leadership following the ousting of Nicolás Maduro.
Rodríguez, who assumed the presidency shortly after a US-led operation in Caracas that resulted in Maduro's capture, engaged in talks with Trump about advancing cooperation in critical sectors such as energy, mining, and security. The meeting took place just a few kilometers from the facility where Maduro is currently detained, awaiting trial on charges related to drug trafficking and other offenses.
Attending the meeting alongside Trump and Rodríguez were US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts to reshape US-Venezuelan relations amid the political turmoil in the South American nation.
In recent developments, Rodríguez's government has entered into an agreement that allows the US to oversee more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, which constitutes over 20% of the country's total reserves. This deal grants a US-led consortium 100-year concessions over 17 oilfields in Venezuela, a move that Trump has previously described as "the biggest oil deal in world history."
During his address to the UN, Trump highlighted the strategic importance of oil, stating that the US and Venezuela together control more than 60% of the world's oil resources. He emphasized the notion that "to the victor belong the spoils," reflecting the US's interest in leveraging its influence in the region.
Rodríguez, who served as vice president under Maduro and was sanctioned by the US in 2018, has seen those sanctions lifted as part of a broader strategy to stabilize the Venezuelan government and economy. She is scheduled to address the UN assembly on Wednesday, where she is expected to outline her vision for Venezuela's future and the role of international cooperation in achieving stability.
The political landscape in Venezuela remains complex, with opposition leader María Corina Machado facing ongoing barriers to her return to the country, underscoring the challenges that continue to affect the nation’s governance and democratic processes.
As the situation evolves, the implications of this meeting between Trump and Rodríguez could have far-reaching effects on US-Venezuelan relations and the geopolitical dynamics in Latin America.