Marco Rubio outlines roadmap for Venezuela's economic recovery

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has outlined a roadmap for Venezuela’s political transition and economic recovery following a meeting between President Donald Trump and interim leader Delcy Rodríguez in New York. Rubio described the meeting as brief but significant, focusing on the necessity of restructuring Venezuela’s sovereign debt to ensure the success of democratic projects and attract investment.

Rubio noted that Venezuela faces massive economic challenges resulting from nearly two decades of corruption and cleptocracy. He emphasized that restructuring the nation's debt—which some estimates place around $164 billion—is essential to building the institutional trust required for the approximately 8 million Venezuelans living abroad to return and invest in the country.

Rodríguez characterized the meeting as “historic.” This encounter marks the first meeting between the two leaders since Rodríguez assumed power following the January kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.