Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Venezuela's New Government Seeks EU Cooperation
Venezuela's new government wants to work more closely with the European Union and the UK.
They had a nice meeting to talk about important things like energy, education, and medicine.
The EU didn't like the old president, Maduro, and even punished some of his friends.
Now, Venezuela wants to make things better for everyone.
The old president is gone and is in trouble in the US.
The new government hopes to fix things and make friends again with other countries.
The new leader, Delcy Rodriguez, is working with the US to rebuild the country's energy infrastructure.
The US has a team of officials, including Marco Rubio and John Ratcliffe, who are helping to decide Venezuela's future.
They want to make sure Venezuela doesn't become too close to China and that US companies can help with the oil industry.
Venezuela's interim government, led by Delcy Rodriguez, is seeking a new agenda with the EU and UK.
The EU did not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader and imposed sanctions on his inner circle.
Talks between Venezuelan officials and European envoys covered energy, education, science, technology, and pharmaceuticals.
The meeting was described as frank, cordial, and pleasant.
Venezuela and the US are taking steps to restore diplomatic ties, severed in 2019.
- Who
- Venezuela's interim government, led by Delcy Rodriguez, and the European Union
- What
- Venezuela is ready to pursue a new agenda with the EU and UK
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday
- Where
- The talks took place in Venezuela
- Why
- To advance cooperation in areas like energy, education, science, technology, and pharmaceuticals
Venezuela's Interim Government
US Government
Leadership and Sanctions
Venezuela's Interim Government
Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president, is working to rebuild the country's energy infrastructure and cooperate with the US and EU.
US Government
The US government has sanctioned Rodriguez for her previous role in Maduro's government but sees her as a key interlocutor for rebuilding Venezuela's energy sector.
Future of Venezuela's Oil Industry
Venezuela's Interim Government
Venezuela's interim government is open to modifying oil legislation to allow more foreign companies to operate in the country.
US Government
The US government, through Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, aims to rebuild Venezuela's oil sector with US firms like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil, while preventing Venezuela from becoming a client state of China.
- Interim Government
- Led by Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former vice president
- EU Relations
- EU did not recognize Maduro as legitimate leader
- Sanctions
- EU imposed sanctions on Maduro's inner circle
- Topics Discussed
- Energy, education, science, technology, pharmaceuticals
- Diplomatic Ties
- Venezuela and US taking steps to restore ties
- Maduro's Order
- Maduro ordered reduction of diplomatic staff in 2025
- Rodriguez's Background
- Formerly Maduro's vice president
- Maduro's Capture
- Maduro captured and transferred to New York for drug-trafficking charges
- Jorge Rodriguez
- Head of Venezuela's National Assembly, leads legislature with a supermajority
- Diosdado Cabello
- Venezuela's interior minister, controls military counterintelligence and motorcycle gangs
- Vladimir Padrino
- Venezuela's defense minister, commands the armed forces
- Maria Corina Machado
- Venezuela's top opposition leader, barred from running in the 2024 presidential elections
- Marco Rubio
- US secretary of state, deeply involved in US efforts to pressure Venezuela's leaders
- John Ratcliffe
- US director of the CIA, part of the core team working on Venezuela
- Stephen Miller
- White House deputy chief of staff for policy, architect of the president's immigration crackdown
- Pete Hegseth
- US secretary of defense, orchestrated the military buildup and capture of Maduro
- Chris Wright
- US secretary of energy, responsible for rebuilding Venezuela's oil sector
