Upcoming Visit of Venezuela's Acting President to the United States

SadaNews - A senior American official reported on Wednesday that Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez will visit the United States soon, in what marks the first such visit by a sitting Venezuelan president in over 25 years, aside from appearances at United Nations meetings in New York.

Acting President Rodriguez announced that she is engaged in talks with the United States "without fear," following the announcement by a senior U.S. official about her impending visit to Washington.

Rodriguez, who assumed the presidency after the U.S. forces kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, said, "We are in a process of dialogue and working with the United States, without any fear, to address our disagreements and difficulties (...) whether they are highly sensitive or less sensitive, and to deal with them through diplomatic channels."

This visit reflects a notable shift in relations between Washington and Caracas, following the American operation that led to the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his transfer to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

Rodriguez was Maduro's deputy and is considered one of the most prominent figures opposing Washington, before changing her approach after assuming the acting presidency.

Despite being subject to U.S. sanctions that include asset freezing, Rodriguez recently allowed the United States to mediate the sale of Venezuelan oil, pledged to facilitate foreign investments, and released dozens of political prisoners, amid the presence of U.S. naval ships off the Venezuelan coast.

A senior White House official confirmed that the visit will take place soon, without specifying a date, while Rodriguez stated that she is engaged in "direct dialogue" with Washington to address disputes through diplomatic channels.

On the domestic front, Rodriguez announced a reorganization within the armed forces, including the appointment of new regional leaders, along with changes in the leadership of her presidential guard. However, these moves have raised concerns within the government, which includes influential figures known for their anti-U.S. stances.

Analysts believe that the future of this rapprochement will depend on the positions of the influential military and political leadership in the country, at a time when Washington seems interested in maintaining communication channels, especially given that Venezuela possesses the largest confirmed oil reserves in the world.