Marco Rubio Anticipates "Lasting Democratic Change for Venezuelan People"

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, held a meeting on Friday with Dinorah Figuera, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly elected in 2015, at the State Department in Washington. Rubio expressed on his X account that he is hopeful for "ongoing progress leading to lasting democratic change for the Venezuelan people."

This marked their first official meeting, occurring amidst the dialogue process between the Venezuelan opposition and the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez. This initiative was supported by Washington following Operation Absolute Resolution—an intervention that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026.

Describing the meeting as a "productive discussion," Rubio emphasized that "tangible advancements have been achieved during the initial rounds of talks with interim authorities."

U.S. Government Support and Goals

Speaking to the press, Rubio elaborated on the White House's endorsement: "This effort has our backing, from the highest levels of the U.S. Government, and it’s crucial to focus on that support."

Rubio clarified the ultimate aim of the initiative: "The goal isn't just to hold free and democratic elections as soon as possible, which is definitely necessary, but to establish a democracy—a republic that can sustainably govern the nation."

Figuera's Return and Appreciation

Having returned to Venezuela in August after nearly eight years in exile in Spain to spearhead the discussions, Figuera expressed gratitude to Washington for its investments in Venezuela's oil sector following Maduro's capture. She described the dialogue as "the path and roadmap for elections" and a "feasible process."

Tensions and Missing Figures

A point of contention in the negotiations is the absence of María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who has been outside Venezuela since December 2025 and has not participated in the talks. Attempts to return from Panama in September 2026 were unsuccessful, according to her team. Her spokesperson mentioned in early October that Machado would be open to direct negotiations with Rodríguez if the process leads to free elections.

The dialogue officially began on August 7 at the La Carlota Air Base in Caracas, led by Jorge Rodríguez for the government side, resulting in a noteworthy initial agreement between the parties.

Rubio's Parallel Efforts

Simultaneously, Rubio, a Cuban-American from Miami, is exerting pressure on the Havana regime. On September 29, he stated on Fox News that "the Cuban regime has already collapsed" in functional terms, though he cautioned that unlike Venezuela, Cuba "has not been open to agreements."

"With the upcoming round of talks set to begin on October 14, I am looking forward to continued progress that leads to lasting democratic change for the Venezuelan people," Rubio concluded after his meeting with Figuera.