Trump says Venezuela elections possible but 'too soon'

US President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela could hold elections but that it is still "too soon" to do so, signaling a delay in the democratic transition that many in the opposition had hoped for. In an interview with Time magazine, Trump said he would discuss the matter with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, but stressed that "right now it's a very delicate subject" Source: Infobae. The remarks come after a private meeting between Trump and Rodríguez on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22, their first face-to-face encounter since the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January Source: El Nacional (VE).

The oil factor

Trump has repeatedly linked the political timeline to the expansion of US oil operations in Venezuela. "Exxon and Chevron, all the big oil companies are moving in," he said, adding that the US is "extracting a huge amount of oil" and will soon fill its strategic reserves Source: Infobae. A separate report from El Confidencial notes that the financial flows from Venezuelan crude sales remain opaque, with the US Treasury holding the funds in a custodial capacity and limited public oversight Source: El Confidencial.

Divergent views on the transition

While Trump praises Rodríguez as "fantastic" and says they "work well together," the Venezuelan opposition remains sidelined. Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado has been blocked from returning to Venezuela at least seven times, with reports suggesting Washington opposes her return Source: La Vanguardia. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US is working with the 2015 National Assembly to create conditions for "free and fair elections," though no date has been set Source: El Nacional (VE).

A new military dimension?

Trump also did not rule out the possibility of establishing a US military base in Venezuela, saying Washington is "evaluating many things" Source: El Nacional (VE). This adds a security component to a bilateral relationship that has so far been dominated by energy deals.