Venezuelan leader Rodriguez says she was invited to US, NBC reports

February 12, 2026 7:44 AM EST

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez looks on as U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wrigh (not pictured) departs following a meeting at Miraflores Palace, marking the highest-level U.S. visit focused on energy policy to the OPEC nation in nearly three d

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - ‌Venezuelan interim ​leader ​President Delcy Rodriguez said she has been invited to the United States, ‌according an interview released Thursday by NBC ⁠News as U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited ‌Caracas.

"I have been invited ‌to the States," Rodríguez was quoted as saying. "We’re contemplating coming there once we establish this ​cooperation and we can move forward with everything.”

Rodriguez, the former vice president and ⁠oil minister, was sworn in as Venezuela's interim president in early ​January after the United States deposed President Nicolas Maduro.

She and Wright face ​the Herculean task of organizing ‌the recovery of Venezuela's oil industry after decades of underinvestment, mismanagement and ⁠U.S. sanctions, while putting U.S. investors at the front of the line.

However, Rodriguez told NBC that ⁠she believes Maduro, who is being held in the ​United States on drugs and weapons charges, remains the legitimate leader of their country.

"I can tell you ‌President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president. I will tell you this ‌as a lawyer, that I am. Both ⁠President Maduro and ‌Cilia Flores, the ​first lady, are both innocent,” she said.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; editing by Susan ‌Heavey)



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