New York – On Tuesday evening, President Trump will host a pull‑aside meeting with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez during the United Nations General Assembly. The encounter, scheduled for 7:40 p.m. local time, is the first time the two leaders have met since U.S. forces captured former President Nicolas Maduro in a January raid.
Venezuelan delegation seeks investment
The Venezuelan delegation arriving in New York includes the vice president of economy, the oil minister and senior officials from state oil company PDVSA. Two sources close to the delegation said their primary goal is to make Venezuela appear “investable” and to secure oil‑industry investment.
Trump’s stance on Venezuela
In his opening remarks to the General Assembly, President Trump labeled Maduro an “outlaw dictator,” highlighted the release of hundreds of political prisoners since the raid, and pledged that the United States will use its “unmatched military might” to protect American interests in the Western Hemisphere. He described a recent oil agreement with Caracas as “perhaps the biggest deal ever made,” and said his administration is seeking $100 billion in investment for Venezuela’s oil sector.
Critics and protesters
Opponents argue Washington has shifted focus from supporting opposition leader María Corina Machado and demanding free elections to pursuing oil and investment deals with the interim government. More than 50 demonstrators gathered outside the UN headquarters on Tuesday, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting slogans such as “No Vote No Oil.” One protester, Miguel Eduardo Martinez, a 34‑year‑old social‑media manager who fled Caracas in 2017, said the meeting was “outrageous” but also noted that “thanks to this government, today we are one step closer to freedom.”
Financial backdrop
Rodriguez arrived in New York on Monday with a delegation that has been discussing energy, mining and debt with U.S. officials, multilateral lenders and private companies. The Inter‑American Development Bank’s president is working to secure approval for a $2.5 billion loan for Venezuela, though some board members have expressed reservations.
What’s at stake
The meeting underscores the Trump administration’s strategy of leveraging diplomatic engagement and economic incentives to encourage a transition toward greater openness in Venezuela. While critics demand a clear commitment to free elections, the administration emphasizes the potential for massive oil investment and the broader goal of stabilizing the Western Hemisphere.
President Trump’s remarks and the upcoming talks signal a continued U.S. focus on using both diplomatic and economic tools to shape outcomes in Venezuela, a nation long plagued by political turmoil and humanitarian challenges.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
