Donald Trump holds informal meeting with Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump held an informal meeting with Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting was confirmed by a White House official, while Rodriguez described the talks as historic, noting that the two sides discussed enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation in strategic sectors including energy, mining, and security.

Delcy Rodriguez assumed power in Venezuela in early January following the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro by the U.S. military during a violent operation in Caracas. Since then, she has been governing under significant pressure from Washington, attempting to normalize the country's international relations after years of isolation. The meeting follows a broader U.S. initiative to leverage Venezuela's vast mineral resources, which hold the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

In August, Washington announced that U.S. firms would gain access to oil deposits with an estimated production capacity of 65 billion barrels, a move described by Trump as the spoils of the victors. The current administration continues its efforts to secure preferential access to these assets as part of its post-Maduro strategy for the region.