Venezuelan delegation led by Rodriguez to discuss debt, energy in US, sources say

A Venezuelan delegation, headed by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, is set to discuss energy, debt, and mining matters with American counterparts during the United Nations General Assembly this week, according to sources. The talks are expected to culminate in the signing of agreements as part of President Donald Trump's strategy to revitalize Venezuela's key industries, the sources added.

Rodriguez, who assumed office in January under Washington's supervision after the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro, arrived in New York on Monday with her team, marking her first visit to the US. She was greeted by the top US diplomat in Venezuela, John Barrett, upon her arrival at the airport, reported Venezuela's state TV.

Venezuelan ministers and high-ranking officials have been engaged in negotiations for months prior to Rodriguez's trip to New York. She is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday, while the meeting with US President Donald Trump is planned for Tuesday as part of a reception hosted by the President. The potential meeting between Trump and Rodriguez, who served as Venezuela's vice president under Maduro, will occur on the sidelines of the event.

Ministry officials have not yet commented on the upcoming discussions. However, recent renovations of some Venezuelan-owned buildings in New York, including a consulate and the office of Venezuela's UN mission, have been reported. Oil Minister Paula Henao, Mining Minister Hector Silva, and top officials from the state oil company PDVSA participated in a G20 energy conference in Houston this month.

They signed a memorandum of understanding with US oil producer Continental Resources for an area in Venezuela's primary output region, the Orinoco Belt. Additionally, a contract was signed granting operational and export rights for a gold mine to US investment firm Heeney Capital. Another preliminary agreement has been under negotiation for months with US energy giant ExxonMobil, which could potentially result in the return of ExxonMobil's operations to Venezuela's oilfields, according to sources.

The Inter-American Development Bank is currently finalizing a two-year engagement plan for Venezuela, focusing on electricity and social protection. This plan includes missions to assess the nation's macroeconomic framework and data, as well as to estimate investment requirements in various sectors, a statement by the bank's President Ilan Goldfajn told Reuters on Monday.