Trump plans UN meeting with Rodríguez

The White House announced that Donald Trump will meet Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, in New York on 22 September, alongside the UN General Assembly. It will be their first face-to-face meeting. Officials described it as an informal pull-aside during a leaders’ reception, not a formal bilateral session.

• 22 SeptemberScheduled date for their meeting — In New York
• 11 yearsSince US-Venezuela leaders last met — Since the 2015 encounter
• One fifthVenezuelan oil reserves under deal — Under recent oil agreement

Q1

When did US and Venezuelan leaders last meet?

The previous encounter was a brief meeting between Barack Obama and Nicolás Maduro at Panama’s 2015 Summit of the Americas.

Q2

Why is energy likely central?

A recent agreement would give Washington control of one fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves and is intended to revive its energy industry.

Q3

What changed in bilateral relations?

After Maduro was captured and removed in January, Washington backed Rodríguez’s government and restored diplomatic relations broken since 2019.

Q4

Which leaders follow on Trump’s schedule?

Trump is also due to meet the British and Japanese prime ministers and hold a multilateral session with Gulf leaders.