United States Welcomes the Start of Negotiations in Venezuela

WASHINGTON, U.S., August 2, 2026. — The U.S. Department of State welcomed the announcement that negotiations between Venezuela’s opposition and the interim authorities would begin, reaffirming the Trump administration’s commitment “to supporting Venezuelan-led efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and expand political freedoms.”

The statement was issued by Dylan Johnson, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, through his account on X, in response to a statement released by the 2015 National Assembly announcing that negotiations would begin the following week in Caracas, Venezuela.

Johnson endorsed the statement reporting on a telephone conversation between Representative Dinorah Figuera, president of Venezuela’s legitimate legislative body, and Jorge Rodríguez, a representative of Delcy Rodríguez’s interim government. The conversation marked the beginning of a process aimed at Venezuela’s democratic transition.

The senior U.S. official wrote: “The United States welcomes this announcement and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Venezuelan-led efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, expand political freedoms, and advance toward a more stable and prosperous future for the people of Venezuela.”

In its official statement, the 2015 National Assembly outlined the agenda for the first round of in-person talks to be held in Caracas:

Assistance for victims of the twin earthquakes;
Strengthening democracy; and
Political rights and guarantees.

The delegation’s political and technical commission will be chaired, on behalf of the 2015 National Assembly, by Representative Dinorah Figuera, accompanied by lawmakers Marco Aurelio Quiñones, Ramón López, Jorge Millán, Juan Miguel Matheus, and Sergio Vergara. A support commission will also be formed, comprising lawmakers Macario González, Desirée Barboza, Julio César Moreno, and Elimar Díaz.

You can read the statements by the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, Dylan Johnson, at the following link: Dylan Johnson’s statement on X.

Marco Rubio: U.S. Will Be “Very Involved” in Talks to Launch Venezuela’s Transition Process

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. government would be “very involved” in the work agenda agreed upon by the 2015-elected National Assembly and the Venezuelan parliament led by Jorge Rodríguez. The process, which was scheduled to begin on August 1, seeks to advance reconciliation, stability, and the country’s recovery.

During remarks to reporters on July 19, Rubio explained that the mechanism aims to create “a format and a forum not only for reconciliation talks, but also to launch the transition process, which is what the people of Venezuela need.” He added that the agreement had been received “as excellent news” and reiterated that the United States would participate actively in its implementation.

The U.S. Secretary of State recalled that the National Assembly elected in 2015 was “the last democratically elected National Assembly” in Venezuela and noted that Washington recognized that body as the country’s legitimate government during the previous U.S. administration.

Rubio made these remarks in response to a question about Venezuela’s reconstruction efforts following the June 24 earthquakes. In that context, he stated that the United States had allocated more than $180 million in assistance and was also working to facilitate the country’s access to international financing for recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Proposal Presented for an Election Date

Following Rubio’s remarks announcing that the transition process would begin on August 1, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno proposed holding elections in Venezuela on July 24, 2027.

“The process of achieving an election in Venezuela is essential. A historic date on which to hold elections could be July 24, 2027, in honor of Venezuela’s original liberator, Simón Bolívar. It would also be a great way to honor the modern liberator, Donald Trump,” Moreno stated in a post on his X account.

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