The United States government defended the negotiations between Chavismo and a sector of the opposition Venezuelan, despite questions about the absence of the opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado. Washington maintains that the process must advance without haste and that the call for elections will depend on the existence of economic and institutional conditions that guarantee its stability.
The talks, promoted since the middle of the year, reached their third round last week. A delegation led by the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, participates on behalf of the ruling party, while the opposition is represented by a bloc led by the president of the parliament elected in 2015, Dinorah Figuera.
According to CNN, A senior US official in Caracas explained that the negotiations are proceeding cautiously and that results require time. The statement came after he was asked if Venezuela would be prepared to celebrate elections on July 24, 2027, date recently proposed by Machado, who is not part of the talks.
“The schedule we manage must be deliberate and thoughtful, we are not setting fixed dates. Look at the stability that exists outside compared to the past, but that stability can be fleeting, so we must have a high level of confidence in phase one before moving on to a tumultuous activity like an election. All of this is possible thanks to January 3,” said the official, referring to the US military action in jaque The then president Nicolás Maduro was captured.
After the arrest of Maduro, who remains in custody in New York and faces charges of narcoterrorism, drug trafficking and other crimes that he rejects, Delcy Rodríguez assumed the presidency in charge. Since then, his administration has established contacts with Washington that have led to agreements and measures to modify the bilateral relationship.
Among the issues addressed include changes to facilitate private investment in the energy sector and a oil agreement that grants the United States control of 65,000 million barrels of Venezuelan oil.
In the political sphere, the Rodríguez government has also announced releases from prison, promoted an amnesty law and opened a channel of dialogue with part of the opposition. However, these measures have not allayed the concerns of human rights organizations.
Foro Penal recognizes progress in some of these initiatives, but warns that there are still 322 people imprisoned for political reasons. For its part, the United Nations (UN) Independent International Fact-Finding Mission noted in September that, even though some “improvements” have occurred, the institutions responsible for acts of repression “remain intact.”
Washington insists that the process does not revolve around a political figure
Machado’s exclusion from the negotiations has raised questions about the role his leadership will play in an eventual transition. When asked why the United States has not promoted greater participation by the opposition leader, the official responded that the objective of the talks is not to favor a particular person.
The US representative recalled that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, “have been clear” that any election must be preceded by a stable and changes in electoral institutions.
“This process is not about any person in particular, it is about a lasting result for the Venezuelan people: the elections. It is the best and only process of this type in 30 years. María Corina Machado’s party was invited to the process and she supported it, which shows its importance. That gives me confidence for the future,” he declared.
When the dialogue was announced, Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia reported that they would not participate, although they avoided disqualifying the conversations. Both remain outside Venezuela and have indicated that they are following the negotiations closely.
Until now the agenda has included issues such as care for affected people due to the double earthquake of June 24reform of the justice system and measures related to freedom of expression.
Machado has insisted in recent months on the need to call elections in the near future. Trump, however, has stated that Venezuela is not yet ready to hold elections, a position that other members of his administration have also expressed.
The US Embassy resumes its operations in Caracas
The US official also referred to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between both countries, after the US Embassy began to resume its activities at its official headquarters in Caracas. The diplomatic representation had remained out of operation since 2019, when Washington and Caracas broke relations.
During that period, their work was carried out from a hotel in the east of the Venezuelan capital, while the official facilities were undergoing repairs to return to operation.
The return to the headquarters is part of the process of reestablishing relations announced by the two governments in March, two months after Maduro’s capture.
For now, the embassy will serve US citizens. Consular services for Venezuelans, including visa processing, will remain suspended until further notice.
In terms of security, the official described the relationship between Washington and the Venezuelan security forces as “extremely positive.”
“Security cooperation has enabled joint operations that support our national interests, something unthinkable before January 3. We hope to continue growing in this area, including the security and protection of mineral assets throughout the country,” he stated.
With information from CNN.
