August M
Washington’s approach to Venezuela is shifting rapidly, with oil sales restarting, diplomatic contacts resuming and questions lingering over who the United States recognises as the country’s legitimate leader. Against that backdrop, a high-profile White House meeting drew attention well beyond its symbolism.
At the centre of it was President Donald Trump, balancing strategic interests with political gestures as Venezuela’s future remains contested.
Oil and power
Since Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was seized by U.S. forces earlier this month and flown to the United States to face drug- and weapons-related charges, the Trump administration has moved quickly to reshape relations with Caracas.
An American official confirmed that the U.S. has completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil, worth $500 million, after years of sanctions, the BBC reported.
US forces have also intercepted tankers suspected of carrying sanctioned Venezuelan crude, boarding a sixth vessel this week. At the same time, diplomatic channels are reopening.
The New York Times reported that a Venezuelan envoy close to acting head of state Delcy Rodríguez is expected in Washington to begin steps toward reopening the country’s embassy.
Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice-president, has been described by the White House as “extremely co-operative” and has spoken with Trump by phone, calling their conversation “productive and courteous”.
Recognition dilemma
While engaging with Rodríguez, Trump has resisted pressure to back Venezuela’s opposition coalition, which claims it won the disputed 2024 election. Its leader, María Corina Machado, travelled to Washington hoping to convince the US president that supporting the interim government was a mistake.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Machado was “a remarkable and brave voice” and that Trump expected “a frank and positive discussion” about conditions in Venezuela. Still, Trump has argued previously that Machado lacks sufficient domestic support to govern.
The meeting highlighted a central tension in US policy: maintaining strategic cooperation while avoiding a definitive endorsement of Venezuela’s next leadership.
Symbolic moment
During the White House encounter, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, according to the BBC. She described the gesture as a sign of gratitude for what she called his commitment to Venezuelan freedom.
“I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans,” she said after meeting Trump for the first time.
Trump later thanked her on social media, calling the act “a wonderful gesture of mutual respect” and saying it was a “great honor” to meet her.
Message to supporters
After leaving the White House, Machado addressed supporters gathered outside the gates. According to the Associated Press, she told them in Spanish: “We can count on President Trump.”
“I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize,” she later told reporters in English, calling it “a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom”.
Machado also visited Congress to meet US senators, as chants of “María, presidente” rang out from supporters waving Venezuelan flags.
History invoked
In remarks during her visit, Machado drew on history to frame the gesture. She recalled how the Marquis de Lafayette once gave a medal bearing George Washington’s likeness to Simón Bolívar, describing it as a symbol of shared struggles for freedom.
The parallel, she said, reflected a bond between the US and Venezuela in opposing tyranny, even as the political reality remains unresolved.
Sources: BBC, Associated Press, New York Times
