The North American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, asked this Monday to the new Venezuelan foreign minister, Oliver Blancomaintain uninterruptedly the release of political prisoners who still remain in Venezuelan prisons. The demand occurred during the first official meeting between both diplomats in the US capital, after the recent appointment of the Venezuelan official by the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.
During the meeting, in which both officials posed before the media without offering statements, the head of US diplomacy ratified the White House’s priorities for Venezuela.
“Secretary Rubio urged the continuation of the release of political prisoners who are still detained in Venezuela,” the State Department said. through a statement.
And he added: “Secretary Rubio reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan for Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery and political reconciliation, and democratic transition. Both addressed progress in reconciliation talks led by Venezuela, including institutional reforms that lay the foundation for free, fair and credible elections.”
This strategic roadmap was presented by the US government after the military operation on January 3 that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Turn in the bilateral agenda and institutional reforms
The meeting in Washington marks a new stage in the US strategy, which concentrated its first efforts on the opening of the Venezuelan oil sector to contain the global rise in crude oil derived from the war conflict with Iran. After guaranteeing the collaboration of the interim government on energy matters, the Trump administration has intensified political pressure on Caracas.
Washington’s agenda includes not only the total amnesty promoted by the Rodríguez administration – which has already allowed the release of hundreds of people – but also the consolidation of dialogue tables with a sector of the opposition. As part of these approaches, Rubio received Dinorah Figuera, head of the opposition bench in the negotiation process, at the State Department weeks ago.
Although both the ruling party and the opposition ratified their commitment to holding presidential elections in the country, the electoral calendar remains undefined. High-level diplomatic sources in the United States expect that the parties will concentrate their efforts on renewing the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Electoral Council before the end of the year, a prior and essential step to call the polls.
