WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that formal talks aimed at advancing Venezuela's political transition are expected to begin in early August, following an agreement between representatives of Venezuela's 2015 National Assembly and the country's interim government.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said the two sides had agreed to establish a formal forum for reconciliation talks and to begin what he described as a transition process. According to Rubio, the initiative is intended to promote political reconciliation, democratic reforms and national recovery.
The announcement follows a joint agenda unveiled by the 2015 National Assembly, led by Dinorah Figuera, and Venezuela's interim government. The agenda is scheduled to begin on Aug. 1 and builds on meetings held between the two parties in June. The U.S. State Department has welcomed the agreement, calling it an important step toward strengthening democratic institutions, improving the electoral system and restoring guarantees for political participation.
While Rubio confirmed that Washington intends to remain closely involved in supporting the process, few details have been released regarding the structure of the dialogue. Officials have not yet disclosed the composition of the forum, a detailed timetable for negotiations or the specific conditions under which the talks will proceed.
The discussions are expected to focus on political reconciliation, institutional reforms and preparations for a democratic electoral transition. U.S. officials have also linked the initiative to Venezuela's ongoing recovery efforts following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country earlier this year, emphasizing the need for stable institutions and national unity.
The United States has described the dialogue as a Venezuelan-led effort and says it will continue supporting initiatives that advance a peaceful democratic transition while assisting the country's broader recovery.