An investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez has become a key Washington ally under Donald Trump. According to the paper, she regularly meets with U.S. investors interested in the country's oil sector and receives direct praise from the U.S. president. This alliance provides Rodríguez with the necessary resources, institutional legitimacy, and political time to consolidate power while preserving many elements of the system built under Nicolás Maduro. As a result, the prospect of free elections in Venezuela is being postponed indefinitely.
The Trump administration is not interested in disrupting its current relationship with Rodríguez: she is described as accommodating and willing to engage in dialogue. Senior White House sources emphasize that the president does not consider Venezuelan elections a priority—U.S. energy interests take precedence. Because of the conflict with Iran, Venezuelan oil is viewed as a strategic reserve in case of global instability. Rodríguez herself, avoiding public comments, agrees in private negotiations to elections “later,” but sets a condition: first lift the sanctions to restore the country's revenues and infrastructure.
