Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has requested authorization to travel to Washington next Tuesday to begin a round of political talks that would include meetings at the White House. According to the Spanish newspaper ABC, citing sources in the US administration with direct knowledge of the matter, the request has already been received by various offices within the U.S. federal government, although there is no official confirmation of meetings or a final decision on the agenda. ABC reported that it requested confirmation from U.S. authorities but received no response. Rodríguez is on the sanctions list for alleged human rights violations, so any travel would require a special license or a temporary exemption issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The potential trip takes on added significance because it coincides with the announcement by former President Donald Trump, who stated that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado will arrive in Washington next week and that he hopes to meet with her. Rodríguez’s trip would include expected meetings at both the White House and with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The request contemplates Rodríguez’s entry on a diplomatic flight from Venezuela. According to ABC, the case is being reviewed by several federal agencies, including the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Treasury Department. If both visits materialize, it would be a politically sensitive event with no recent precedent. However, Washington has not formally validated this framework nor offered any guarantees of dialogue, according to ABC. Sources consulted by the newspaper indicate that the procedure is in a preliminary phase and must pass several checks.
