The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, spoke this Monday, November 2, with his Venezuelan counterpart, Oliver Blanco, about the reforms that they believe can lay the foundations for future "free, fair and credible elections" in the South American country, official sources reported.
First modification: 03/11/2026 - 02:49
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco in Washington on Monday.
According to a statement from the State Department, "both discussed progress in the reconciliation talks led by Venezuela, including institutional reforms that lay the foundation for free, fair and credible elections."
Last week, the head of US diplomacy had assured that Venezuela's electoral infrastructure was designed "to rig the elections" and that it must be quickly replaced before valid elections can be held.
The rapprochement between the US and Venezuela has deepened after, in early January, President Donald Trump ordered a US military incursion in Caracas in which then-president Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken out of the country by US forces and transferred to New York to be tried on drug trafficking charges.
Since then, Donald Trump has constantly praised Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who became interim president and began governing the country under the supervision of the United States, especially in the economic field. In fact, the Rodríguez government has signed agreements with various companies interested in oil and gas, with the support of Washington.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado declared last week that Washington has suggested that the country hold presidential elections next year.
The Trump Administration says it supports negotiations between the Rodríguez government and opposition groups, which do not include Machado's Vente Venezuela movement, to reform Venezuela's electoral council and supreme court before the next elections.
The US Treasury Department reported on Monday that Venezuela's Foreign Minister also met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with whom he discussed how to boost energy production and attract investment to Venezuela.
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The U.N. human rights office said in January that the U.S. intervention in Venezuela violated international law, while human rights advocates argue that Trump's focus on exploiting Venezuelan oil reflects an imperialist stance.
Read also "There will be elections": Rodríguez confirms elections in Venezuela; Machado addresses the press
Release of "political prisoners"
During this meeting on Monday, Rubio also called on Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco to help Venezuela with the process of releasing imprisoned opponents.
"Secretary Rubio urged the continuation of the release of political prisoners who are still detained in Venezuela," the State Department statement said.
This is Blanco's first trip to Washington after taking office.
Blanco was named last week as the new head of Venezuelan diplomacy by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who promoted, under pressure from Washington, an amnesty that has allowed the release of hundreds of those considered by Human Rights organizations to be "political prisoners."
Blanco said in February, when he was named vice minister, that he is not a member of the ruling party and then advocated a "firm" foreign policy in what he considered a new stage of international relations for the country.
Rubio "reaffirmed the president's [Donald Trump] three-phase plan for Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery and political reconciliation, and democratic transition," recalled the State Department text.
Washington initially focused its efforts on achieving the liberalization of the Venezuelan oil sector, coinciding with its military campaign against Iran, which caused a large rise in crude oil prices.
The interim government of Delcy Rodríguez quickly collaborated with Washington, which then progressively imposed a political agenda.
Read alsoDonald Trump says that Venezuela sent him a million barrels of oil "as a gift"
With Reuters and AFP
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