Trump’s Venezuela Diplomacy: A New Chapter Takes Shape at the UN

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to meet Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez in New York this week during the United Nations General Assembly, marking their first face-to-face encounter since the U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power in January.

The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, is expected to take place on the sidelines of a reception hosted by Trump. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz described it as a “pull-aside,” meaning a more informal diplomatic meeting rather than a formal bilateral summit.

The encounter comes after Washington and Caracas have moved toward closer cooperation in recent months. A major energy agreement announced in August gave the United States a significant role in Venezuela’s oil sector, with the Trump administration presenting the deal as a way to expand energy production and support Venezuela’s economic recovery.

Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, assumed the interim presidency following Maduro’s removal. Her upcoming meeting with Trump therefore carries significance beyond the brief diplomatic format: it signals continued direct engagement between Washington and Venezuela’s new leadership.

Trump’s UN schedule is also expected to include meetings with leaders from Britain, Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council, while major international issues—including the ongoing conflict involving Iran—remain on the agenda.

For Venezuela, the meeting could provide another opportunity to discuss energy, economic recovery and the future relationship with Washington. For Trump, it puts his Venezuela policy directly in the spotlight as world leaders gather in New York.

The bigger question now is what comes after the handshakes and headlines: Will this informal UN encounter lead to deeper U.S.-Venezuela cooperation, or remain another high-profile diplomatic moment?