Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez is expected to travel to Washington, D.C. in the coming days, according to a senior U.S. official quoted by the White House. The event is marking a significant diplomatic development in the wake of the January 3 operation that resulted in the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
The official announcement did not include specific dates or an agenda for Rodríguez’s visit, reflecting the fluid nature of U.S.–Venezuela relations following months of political upheaval. Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency after Maduro’s ouster and has since been engaged in efforts to stabilize Venezuela’s political and economic landscape under intense international scrutiny.
Delcy Rodríguez will travel to Washington, according to the White House
Rodríguez’s prospective trip to the U.S. capital comes just days after President Donald Trump met with María Corina Machado. The meet within the Venezuelan opposition leader highlighted divisions within Venezuelan political circles about the future direction of their country, but so far she has been excluded from a formal role in the transitional process by the U.S. administration.
Instead, Trump has publicly endorsed the interim government led by Rodríguez, asserting that it is operating “under the guidance” of Washington and is fulfilling requirements set by the U.S., including granting access to Venezuela’s oil sector and facilitating crude exports to the United States.
Despite this backing, Trump hinted earlier this week that Machado could still be “involved in some way” in Venezuela’s future and praised her as an “incredible woman” who did “something extraordinary” by presenting him with her Nobel medal, although he acknowledged she currently lacks sufficient support for leadership.
The news of Rodríguez’s forthcoming visit follows high-level contacts between Venezuelan officials and U.S. representatives, including a meeting between Rodríguez and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Caracas, where security and economic cooperation were discussed.
As Venezuela’s transition continues to unfold, Rodríguez has signaled that if she travels to Washington as the country’s leader, she intends to do so “standing, walking — not dragged,” underscoring a firm stance on her role and legitimacy amid mounting geopolitical tensions.
