U.S. President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez during the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday evening. This is the first meeting between the two since the U.S. military carried out a raid and seized then-President Maduro in January this year.
This brief meeting took place at a reception hosted by Trump, and it was also Rodriguez’s first visit to the United States since she took office. She is scheduled to give a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.
Two people close to the Venezuelan delegation told Reuters that the delegation, which included the vice president in charge of economic affairs, the oil minister, and officials from Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, aimed to demonstrate to the world that Venezuela has 'investment value'.
Rodriguez said that this meeting is a historic step in strengthening relations between Venezuela and the United States in the areas of energy, mining, and security.
She said after the meeting through the messaging app Telegram: "Venezuela and the United States have historic relations. In this new stage, we bear the responsibility of using dialogue to guide these relations forward."
She also stated that her government will seek 'specific results and collective benefits' through diplomatic means, so that the Venezuelan people can benefit from them.
A White House official stated that the US personnel attending this meeting include President Trump, Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Treasury Yellen, White House Chief of Staff Susan Rice, and Senior Advisor to the President Stephen Miller.
Trump has established a working relationship with Rodriguez. Rodriguez previously served as Vice President in Maduro's government.
Trump said of Maduro during his speech at the United Nations that he was a "lawless dictator," and stated that hundreds of political prisoners have been released since Maduro's arrest. He also used this raid as an example, saying that the United States will protect its interests in the Western hemisphere.
Trump said: "War booty belongs to the victors."
He called the oil agreement he signed with Galagaas in the previous month "perhaps the largest deal in history."
Trump previously stated that he hopes for an investment of $100 billion into Venezuela's oil industry.
Rodriguez arrived in New York on Monday. According to sources, she led a delegation that held talks with American officials, multilateral lending institutions, and companies regarding energy, mining, and debt issues.
The President of the Inter-American Development Bank is currently pushing for the approval of a $2.5 billion loan to Venezuela. However, sources say that this proposal has met with opposition from some members of the bank’s board of directors.
