Delcy Rodríguez attends the UN General Assembly in New York after meeting with Trump

Delcy Rodriguez at a meeting in Suriname. — Photo: Ranu Abhelakh / Reuters

The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, began her speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), in New York. It is the first speech by a Venezuelan leader at the event since 2018.

This Wednesday's participation (23) takes place nine months after she took over the Venezuelan government, following the capture of then-president Nicolás Maduro during a United States military operation in January.

The Venezuelan delegation includes the vice president of the economic area, the Minister of Oil and representatives of the state-owned company PDVSA.

The trip to New York takes place amid the rapprochement between Caracas and Washington. Earlier, US President Donald Trump met with Rodríguez for the first time since Rodríguez took power in Venezuela following the capture of then-president Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a US military operation carried out on January 3.

According to Rodríguez, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations and a cooperation agenda in the areas of energy, mining and security.

After the meeting, Delcy published a photo with Trump on social media.

"We talked about strengthening the bilateral relationship between our countries and advancing a cooperation agenda in strategic areas such as energy, mining, security and other topics of common interest", published the Venezuelan.

Delcy also thanked the US for its support during the crisis caused by the June 2 earthquakes and for its help in "the process of reintegrating our country into multilateral spaces."

Rodríguez's new speech comes as the interim government seeks to expand Venezuela's reinsertion into international organizations. Before the General Assembly, she met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

According to sources interviewed by Reuters, the delegation has sought to present Venezuela as an attractive destination for investments. In recent days, members of the delegation participated in conversations with American authorities, companies, multilateral organizations and creditors on topics such as energy, mining and public debt.

Trump developed a working relationship with Rodríguez, who served as vice president during the Maduro administration. The approach, however, has been criticized by sectors of the Venezuelan opposition, led by María Corina Machado. Critics claim that Washington left demands for free elections in the country in the background in favor of economic and oil agreements with the interim government.

During his speech at the UN General Assembly this Tuesday, Trump again attacked Maduro, classifying him as an "outlaw dictator". The American president said hundreds of political prisoners were freed after the capture of the former Venezuelan leader and cited January's military operation as demonstrating the US's willingness to use its military power to protect interests in the Western Hemisphere.

Protesters protest in Caracas against the presence of the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, at the UN General Assembly, on September 22, 2026. — Photo: Gaby Oraa/ Reuters

Trump also highlighted an oil deal reached between Washington and Caracas last month, which he called "perhaps the biggest deal ever made." The Republican has already declared that he intends to encourage US$100 billion in investments for the Venezuelan oil industry.

Rodríguez's presence in New York sparked protests. More than 50 protesters gathered outside the UN headquarters this Tuesday calling for free elections in Venezuela. Participants carried signs with phrases such as "No vote, no oil" and "New face, same regime".

Some protesters recalled that Rodríguez was part of the Chavista government for more than two decades. There were also references to Maduro, who is awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges in a federal prison in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

According to protest organizers, the expectation is that Trump will pressure the Venezuelan interim government to establish a calendar for new elections in the country.

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Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez participates in the debate session of the UN General Assembly, on September 22, 2026. — Photo: Brendan McDermid/ Reuters