Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart Clarifies Trump-Rodríguez Meeting Amidst Venezuelan Transition
U.S. Republican Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart has clarified that a recent meeting between President Trump and Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, was not intended to legitimize Rodríguez's power but rather to support Venezuela's political transition towards free elections. The meeting, which took place on September 22 in New York during a UN General Assembly reception, was the first direct encounter between the two leaders since the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January. Díaz-Balart emphasized that significant changes to Venezuela's institutions are necessary before any elections can be held, as he views the current institutions as corrupt and controlled by the regime. Despite acknowledging that the optics of the meeting were not ideal, Díaz-Balart defended the strategy of engaging with key actors in the Venezuelan political process to advance the transition. Rodríguez, on her part, described the meeting as 'historic' and indicated discussions included strengthening U.S.-Venezuela relations and ...
