Venezuela Leader Promises Elections at UN Address

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, promising that elections would be held in the nation and stating that the Venezuelan people would determine the "right moment" for the vote. This marked her first address to the assembly since assuming leadership, a tone perhaps familiar to those who have followed political shifts from afar, even here in Miami, a city with deep ties to Venezuelan history.

Rodriguez announced that her government has initiated a "political dialogue with opposition sectors" to establish a process with "equal conditions for all." She assured the United Nations that when the time is appropriate, Venezuela's institutions will be prepared to ensure an "inclusive and transparent process." Rodriguez assumed leadership in January following a U.S. military raid that led to the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the United States.

Her participation in the U.N. signifies Venezuela's renewed engagement in global diplomacy. Rodriguez noted that the last meeting between Venezuelan and U.S. presidents was in 2009. She expressed that Venezuela is recovering from "setbacks," including devastating earthquakes on June 24 that registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, killing over 6,500 people and causing widespread destruction. She acknowledged a "crisis of political coexistence" that had impacted the nation and its international relations, a sentiment that resonates with the complex diaspora community, many of whom make their homes in neighborhoods like Doral.

Rodriguez also extended thanks to President Donald Trump for his willingness to resume relations, highlighting efforts to resolve differences through dialogue and foster cooperation in energy, security, and combating transnational crime. She described the current period as one where "Venezuela is being reborn." She cautioned that the country's recovery and "rebuilding the national soul" will require time and unity, emphasizing hope after hardship.

Prior to her U.N. speech, Rodriguez met with President Trump late Tuesday at a reception hosted by the U.S. president. This was their first in-person meeting since Maduro's capture. They discussed strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in strategic areas like energy, mining, and security. This follows an agreement last month granting the U.S. a stake in Venezuela's oil reserves, which Rodriguez views as a step toward modernizing the oil industry and economic recovery. She vowed to lead Venezuela toward "full democracy" and stated that the nation "wants to breathe freely and exercise its rights as a sovereign nation without any kind of interference."