Politics & Governance
Rubio says Venezuela transition will take months
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that he expects Venezuela's political transition to take months and weeks, not years, as delegates of interim President Delcy Rodríguez and opposition members prepare for their first round of talks in Caracas this week.
Rubio said the process would require “persistence” and “patience,” but not years. He said Venezuela should move through economic stabilization, political stabilization and then elections.
“We want to improve the daily lives, help improve the daily lives of Venezuelans economically, so that they're better off, they're more prosperous,” Rubio told reporters on the sidelines of an event with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez. “I think that helps as well facilitate the political transition.”
The talks follow the fall of former leader Nicolas Maduro, who was captured seven months ago in a US military raid. Rubio has become the main architect of US President Donald Trump's policy toward Venezuela, a major oil producer, amid higher oil prices linked to the war with Iran.
The government and opposition announced Saturday that the in-person talks would begin in Caracas after a telephone call between National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez, the government's chief negotiator and brother of Delcy Rodríguez, and opposition figure Dinorah Figuera.
Rodriguez said the first meeting would cover assistance for people affected by last month's earthquakes, the “reinforcement of democracy” and political rights. Figuera confirmed the call and the agenda items. The government team is also expected to include former foreign minister Jorge Arreaza.
The talks are backed by the United States, which says they will focus on rebuilding democratic institutions, strengthening the electorate and guaranteeing political participation. Observers hope the process will produce a calendar for new elections.
Venezuela has been in political flux since US forces deposed Maduro in January. Delcy Rodríguez, who had served as Maduro's vice president, has governed as interim leader under Washington's watch.
The talks also follow devastating earthquakes on June 24 in northern Venezuela that killed more than 5,500 people. Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but its economy remains in severe difficulty.
Update
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expects Venezuela's political transition to take months and weeks, not years.
Rubio said Venezuela must go through economic stabilization, political stabilization and then elections.
Rubio linked economic improvement for Venezuelans to facilitating the political transition.
Delegates of interim President Delcy Rodríguez and opposition members are scheduled to hold their first round of talks this week in Caracas.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 16:07:42 UTC.
Update
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.
Leftist Chavistas are distrustful of a process that the item says includes only US-approved representatives.
Dinorah Figuera thanked the US government and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for supporting the transition.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 00:15:15 UTC.
Update
Dinorah Figuera confirmed the telephone call and the agenda items for the talks.
The first in-person meeting is expected to address quake assistance, reinforcement of democracy and political rights.
The government negotiating team will include former foreign minister Jorge Arreaza.
Figuera's team did not include any heavyweight opposition figures.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 23:09:46 UTC.
Update
Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela's National Assembly, said the first in-person meeting would be in Caracas next week.
Rodriguez made the statement after a telephone call with opposition figure Dinorah Figuera.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 22:31:32 UTC.
Update
The government's chief negotiator said Venezuela's transition talks will begin in person next week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 22:23:37 UTC.
Update
Former Venezuelan minister Alejandro Fleming said Maria Corina Machado's participation in the transition talks is crucial.
Fleming described Machado as Venezuela's most important political leader and said she could appoint a representative if she does not attend.
Fleming endorsed the US-backed talks and said US oversight could help ensure agreements are respected.
Fleming voiced approval for Washington's ouster of Nicolas Maduro in January.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 July 2026 at 02:23:24 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact timetable for Venezuela's political transition remains unresolved.
No election calendar has been reported as agreed.
Source
AFP news report published on .