Rubio meets new Venezuelan FM, urges release of political prisoners

Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuela's newly appointed foreign minister, Oliver Blanco, on Monday, urging the release of political prisoners held under the deposed leader Nicolas Maduro. The meeting marked Blanco's first visit to the United States after assuming his position last week, under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has overseen Venezuela's affairs since American forces removed Maduro in January.

Rubio reiterated the President's three-phase plan for Venezuela: stabilisation, economic recovery, and political reconciliation, as well as a democratic transition, according to a State Department readout of the meeting. The diplomats posed for a photo together before the meeting, though neither issued a statement.

During their discussion, Rubio emphasized the continued release of the remaining political prisoners in Venezuela. Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013 with an increasingly authoritarian approach, has been accused of arresting political opponents and activists on fabricated charges of coup plotting. The US has long pressured for the release of political prisoners since Rodriguez took office, with a landmark amnesty law leading to the release of many, though hundreds remain incarcerated.

The latest count from the NGO Foro Penal, which advocates for political prisoners, stood at 344 as of September 18.

Following the talks, Blanco conversed with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, both discussing Venezuela's situation and the US administration's three-phase approach: stabilisation, recovery, and transition, as reported by the US.