In brief
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco to reinforce Washington’s commitment to a phased approach for Venezuela’s democratic transition. The plan, backed by the U.S. and the Trump administration, calls for stabilization, economic recovery and reconciliation before elections in 2027. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has returned to the country and is preparing her campaign while the U.S. works on oil deals with interim President Delcy Rodriguez and the private company NABEP.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco to say Washington remains committed to a phased plan for Venezuela’s return to democracy.
The three‑step plan, originally outlined by the Trump administration, calls for (1) stabilization, (2) economic recovery and (3) political reconciliation before presidential elections are held in 2027.
The meeting came a year after U.S. forces brought former President Nicolás Maduro to the United States to face charges. Rubio and Blanco did not speak to the media, but a State Department readout confirmed the U.S. stance.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has returned to Venezuela and is preparing a campaign to help organize voters for the upcoming elections. She thanked President Trump and Rubio for their support.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has singled out the interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who took over after Maduro’s abduction. The U.S. struck a deal giving Washington a stake in about one‑fifth of Venezuelan oil resources through joint venture with North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), owned by Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt.
Under the agreement, NABEP holds 100‑year rights to 17 oilfields with 65 billion barrels of reserves. The Pentagon will hold a 35 percent stake, and the U.S. is guaranteed a 20 percent share of oil output at cost.
These steps are intended to help rebuild Venezuela’s economy and pave the way for the first free elections in years. The U.S. says the phased approach is essential for stability and a credible democratic transition.
