Trump meets US-backed Venezuelan president for first time since Maduro seized

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, marking their first face‑to‑face encounter since the White House backed Rodríguez to assume power after a U.S. raid that captured former president Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. The meeting took place a few kilometres from the New York detention facility where Maduro is being held on drug‑trafficking and other charges. Accompanying Trump were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, while Rodríguez, who had previously served as Maduro’s vice‑president and was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 before those sanctions were lifted in April, said the talks focused on “advancing a cooperation agenda in strategic areas such as energy, mining, and security.”

The most consequential element of the encounter was the reaffirmation of a sweeping oil agreement signed by Rodríguez’s interim government, which grants a U.S.–led consortium control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil—over one‑fifth of the nation’s reserves—through 100‑year concessions on 17 oilfields. Trump hailed the deal as “the biggest oil deal in world history,” and during his UN address he claimed the United States and Venezuela together now control “more than 60 %” of global oil supplies, framing the arrangement as a strategic victory for the United States. The agreement, signed after Rodríguez was sworn in by Venezuela’s National Assembly with U.S. endorsement, underscores Washington’s intent to reshape the country’s energy sector and secure long‑term access to its vast hydrocarbon resources.

The meeting’s implications extend beyond the oil sector, signaling a broader U.S. strategy to reshape Venezuela’s political landscape and align it with American interests. Rodríguez’s ascent, backed by the United States, has already drawn criticism from opposition figures such as Maria Corina Machado, who remains barred from re‑entering the country. Meanwhile, Maduro’s upcoming trial in June adds a legal dimension to the power shift, as the former leader faces charges that could further delegitimize his regime. The presence of senior U.S. officials at the talks suggests continued American involvement in Venezuelan affairs, while the oil concessions position the United States to benefit economically from the country’s resources for generations, potentially reshaping regional energy dynamics and influencing future diplomatic negotiations.

⚡ Effects Interpreter