World
US Reaffirms Three-Phase Plan for Venezuela’s Democratic Transition
The United States has reiterated its support for a phased approach to Venezuela’s political future, urging the country to pursue stabilization, economic recovery, and political reconciliation before moving toward democratic elections. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco on Monday to discuss the plan. In a State Department readout, Washington reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s three‑phase strategy, which includes a democratic transition that would culminate in presidential elections in 2027.
The meeting comes a year after U.S. forces removed former President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas and brought him to the United States to face drug‑trafficking and other charges. Neither Rubio nor Blanco spoke to the media after the meeting.
Last week, opposition leader María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela, thanking President Trump and Secretary Rubio for their support. Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who presented her medal to Trump in 2025, said she was organizing a movement to prepare for upcoming elections. She noted that Rubio had outlined a sequence of events aimed at a democratic transition, including the 2027 presidential election.
Machado’s campaign is running alongside a Trump administration that has negotiated oil deals with the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez, who succeeded Maduro after his abduction. In September, the administration announced a joint venture with North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), owned by Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt. Under the agreement, Caracas will grant NABEP 100‑year rights to 17 oilfields with proven reserves of 65 billion barrels. The Pentagon will hold a 35 percent stake in NABEP, and the United States will be guaranteed the right to purchase 20 percent of its oil output at cost.
Shortly before Machado’s statements, Rodríguez assured the nation that elections would be held “with the world as witness,” though she did not specify a date. When asked about a possible meeting with Rodríguez, Machado said she had not received any communication from the interim president or from Washington. She expressed skepticism about the oil agreement, stating that it does not reflect the transparency levels desired by Venezuelan society.
Frequently asked questions
What does the U.S. three-phase plan for Venezuela's transition entail?
It calls for stabilization, economic recovery, and political reconciliation before moving toward democratic elections, culminating in presidential elections in 2027.
Who met to discuss the plan and what was discussed?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco to discuss the plan.
What is the status of the oil deal between the U.S. and Venezuela?
The U.S. and Venezuela announced a joint venture with North American Blue Energy Partners, granting the company 100‑year rights to 17 oilfields with 65 billion barrels, with the Pentagon holding a 35 percent stake and the U.S. guaranteed the right to purchase 20 percent of its oil output at cost.