Washington discusses the “transitional phase” in Venezuela with the acting president

The new head of the US diplomatic mission in Venezuela, Laura Dugo, said that in her last meeting with acting President Delcy Rodriguez, she discussed the issue of the transitional phase in the country after the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dogo wrote on the “X” platform: “I met with (acting Venezuelan President) Delcy Rodriguez and (Parliament Speaker) Jorge Rodriguez to reaffirm the three stages proposed by (US Secretary of State Marco) Rubio for Venezuela: stability, economic recovery, reconciliation and transition.”

At the same time, Rodriguez appointed former Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia as head of the diplomatic mission in the United States.

Plasencia’s appointment represents a turning point in relations between Washington and Caracas, which collapsed in 2019 after Washington refused to recognize Maduro’s re-election, and chose to recognize a parallel government led by opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said: “The (Venezuelan) government has indicated the need to build a productive agenda for peace and respect, an agenda that is fully consistent with the principles of international law, so that we can guide relations between the United States and Venezuela once and for all towards a path of happiness for both peoples.” He called for the lifting of US economic sanctions “within the framework of diplomacy.”

For her part, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, expressed to journalists during a video call the day before yesterday her willingness to meet with Rodriguez “if necessary” in order to set a “timetable for the transitional phase.”

“If a meeting is necessary to exchange ideas on a timetable for the transitional phase, that will happen,” she said during the call, according to a transcript, but added that Rodriguez’s interim government “is still the mafia.” While US President Donald Trump works to normalize relations with the Venezuelan authorities following the US arrest of Maduro and his wife during an attack on Caracas, the role assigned to Machado in the country’s future political scene remains unknown.

Rodriguez showed goodwill towards Trump by reforming the oil law and declaring a general amnesty, but she appointed Daniela Cabello – the daughter of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, for whom the United States has offered a $25 million reward for information leading to his arrest – as Minister of Tourism.

The appointment of Diosdado Cabello’s daughter appears to be evidence of his great influence that still exists.