Trump and Rodriguez Hold First Meeting 20 Minutes Away from Prison Holding Maduro

Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez held her first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump following the ouster of former President Nicolas Maduro, according to local daily El Nacional on Monday, local time.

The meeting took place at a hotel in Manhattan, just a 20-minute drive from the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, where former President Maduro is imprisoned on charges including drug trafficking.

The meeting, which began past 7:40 p.m. on September 22, local time, was held behind closed doors under strict security.

According to a White House official, the meeting brought together key U.S. diplomatic and economic figures, including President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

This marks the first official sit-down between the leaders of the two countries in 27 years, since former U.S. President Bill Clinton met then-President-elect Hugo Chavez in 1999.

It is also the first high-level contact in 11 years, even when including the brief exchange between former President Barack Obama and Maduro in 2015.

During the meeting, the two leaders reportedly discussed various issues such as debt restructuring and the reconstruction of Venezuela.

According to reports, defaulted and outstanding bonds held by the Venezuelan government and state oil company PDVSA amount to approximately 60 billion dollars (about 82 trillion won).

Experts estimate that total debt, including compensation for damages to foreign companies and accumulated interest, could reach up to 200 billion dollars (about 273 trillion won).

Secretary of State Rubio stated in a briefing on September 23 that the two leaders discussed issues including debt restructuring.

He added, "There are so many things that need to be fixed for Venezuela to succeed," and "Debt restructuring is a core issue in that process."

Ironically, the figure spearheading Venezuela's reconstruction while aligning with U.S. demands for debt restructuring is Interim President Rodriguez, once known as an "anti-U.S. warrior."

Rising through the ranks under the past Chavez and Maduro regimes to serve as foreign minister and vice president, Interim President Rodriguez was a vocal critic of the United States.

In a speech at the 2019 UN General Assembly, she denounced U.S. sanctions as "state terrorism" and fiercely criticized Washington for baring its "imperialist claws."

However, after seizing power following Maduro's arrest, Interim President Rodriguez has recently shown a changed attitude.

Immediately upon arriving in New York on September 21, she posted on social media, saying, "I believe in meetings and solidarity between nations. We will make our voices heard by putting agendas based on mutual respect and cooperation first," foreshadowing a flexible and pragmatic diplomatic stance.

Indeed, during this visit, the Venezuelan delegation has been discussing energy, mining, and debt restructuring with U.S. authorities and corporations, emphasizing that Venezuela is a "country open for investment."

Amid this atmosphere of opening up the energy sector, the United States recently secured access from Venezuela to oil reserves (65 billion barrels) that exceed its own domestic reserves.

Based on oil reserves, Venezuela ranks first in the world.

Amidst this relationship between President Trump and Interim President Rodriguez, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado finds her position increasingly narrowing.

Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, has made every effort to return to Venezuela following Maduro's ouster, but things have not gone as planned.

According to Reuters and other outlets, Machado, who is living in exile, attempted to return to Venezuela three times over the past few days, but all attempts were thwarted.

This marks her seventh failed entry attempt since going into exile.

Sources familiar with the matter reported that U.S. officials have privately urged Machado to delay her return and opposed her re-entry attempts.

Momentum is growing for the analysis that Washington's political circles have chosen to compromise with the Rodriguez administration, which enables pragmatic oil and economic cooperation, rather than democratic opposition leadership.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.