Venezuela's U.S.-backed transition talks wrap first day in Caracas
U.S.-backed negotiations between Venezuela's interim government and opposition representatives wrapped up their first day in Caracas on Thursday, with both sides pledging to pursue a negotiated end to the country's prolonged political crisis.
An AFP photographer at the scene confirmed the talks were held at the La Carlota military base. The meeting comes seven months after U.S. forces took President Nicolas Maduro into custody. Since then, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has governed with Washington's backing, while Venezuela's economy and political institutions remain under severe strain.
Venezuelans are watching closely, hoping the dialogue can pave the way to elections in a country that has seen hyperinflation, mass emigration and diplomatic isolation.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate living in exile, was not invited to participate. She said she would not stand in the way of the process. In a post on X, Machado described the moment as a chance to restore freedom and prosperity, adding that "a democratic transition in Venezuela will restore our freedom and our prosperity" and would create "a vital and reliable ally for the national security of the United States and regional stability." She ended with: "The Venezuelan people are eager and ready!"
The government side is led by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, the interim leader's brother. The opposition delegation is headed by Dinorah Figuera, who flew back to Venezuela from exile on Wednesday. Figuera represents the opposition bloc that won a majority in the 2015 National Assembly elections, the last vote widely recognized by the international community.
Speaking at the airport on arrival, Figuera said her focus was "the official opening this week of this dialogue process, which seeks the restoration of democratic institutions." She has urged changes to the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Electoral Council, both institutions widely criticized for endorsing Maduro's disputed 2024 reelection – a result the opposition rejected as fraudulent.
At the close of the first session, both delegations said they had agreed to negotiate in good faith and would look for a "political, peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution." The opposition delegation added in its own statement that the dialogue "aims to achieve stabilization, political reconciliation and a peaceful transition."
The U.S. State Department welcomed the start of in-person talks and called them "a unique opportunity." Washington urged all concerned to support the effort to provide "tangible results for Venezuelans," naming stabilization, economic recovery, political reconciliation and a peaceful transition as key goals.
Beyond political transition, the agenda includes response to the twin earthquakes that struck on June 24 and killed more than 6,000 people. Also discussed will be strengthening democracy and political rights.
Machado has reportedly been blocked from returning to Venezuela by President Donald Trump, a claim Washington denies. Trump has repeatedly praised Rodriguez for opening Venezuela's mining, electricity and oil sectors to foreign and private capital.
The talks were closed to all except photographers. No date for the next session has been announced.