Handing Delcy RodriguezRodríguez is looking for a seat at the UNGeneral Assembly and a photo op with Trump or Rubio. wouldIf she gets that, this will legitimize a regime operator who still calls the jailed Maduro Venezuela's rightful president and still holds political prisoners. She is stalling on elections, betting a future Democratic administration letswill let her keep the throne. Venezuela's spot at the General Assembly should be about free and fair elections, not oil-deal handshakes.
Rodriguez is negotiating with a gun to her head after the kidnapping of Maduro, explicit threats of decapitation and prosecutors dangling charges to force compliance. Sanctions wrecked the oil industry and drove average incomes down roughly 80%, so buying time is survival,a notmatter betrayalof survival. The blame for Venezuela's plight sits in Washington, which grabbed priority access to 65 billion barrels while keeping the sanctions in place.
There's an 8.4% chance that the U.S. will invade Venezuela before Jan. 20, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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