On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that Venezuela's 2015 National Assembly and the interim government have agreed to form a joint forum to officially kick off the country's political transition process, with initial discussions set for early August.
Rubio shared the announcement during a press conference at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, prior to his departure for the Philippines, in response to an inquiry about Venezuela's reconstruction progress following the earthquakes on June 24.
"A delegation representing the 2015 National Assembly, the last democratically elected body which we recognize as Venezuela's legitimate government, met with the interim government. They have decided to establish a format and forum not just for reconciliation talks, but to begin the transition process, which is what the people of Venezuela need," Rubio stated, underscoring the U.S.'s diplomatic commitment.
Describing the agreement as a "highly significant proposal," Rubio lamented the lack of media coverage it has received.
"I believe their first official talks will commence in the first week of August. It struck me as a very significant proposal. As the situation evolves, we’ll see how it progresses, but we think this agreement was generally well-received in Venezuela as good news," he added.
The Secretary of State also emphasized that Washington would play a proactive role in this new phase.
"Clearly, this is something we will be very actively involved in," he affirmed.
Transition Agreement
The accord emerged from a meeting held on June 18 at the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas, between Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015 National Assembly, and Jorge Rodríguez, a representative of the interim government.
Figuera returned to Venezuela after eight years of exile in Spain, invited by the Department of State. According to Infobae, the roadmap includes creating a technical and political committee to drive institutional reforms, such as renewing the National Electoral Council and restructuring the Supreme Court of Justice.
Although the process faced temporary delays due to the earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24, which resulted in over 5,000 casualties and approximately 20,000 injuries in northern Venezuela, the commitment to establish the dialogue table remained intact.
U.S. Support and Reconstruction Efforts
During the same briefing, Rubio updated on U.S. aid to Venezuela in response to the natural disaster.
He noted that, from the total announced amount, Washington has already allocated over $180 million for reconstruction efforts and is working to improve Venezuela's access to international funding and credit mechanisms.
"They are still working on estimating the total cost, which will be substantial, both for debris removal and constructing new infrastructure," he mentioned.
Previously, on July 9, the Department of State reported that the total U.S. aid pledged for the emergency response exceeded $386 million.
This announcement is part of a three-phase strategy for Venezuela that Rubio introduced in January 2026: stabilization, recovery, and transition.
With the establishment of this dialogue forum between the 2015 National Assembly and the interim government, Washington believes Venezuela has formally entered the political transition phase, aiming to lay the groundwork for institutional and economic reconstruction.
Key Questions About Venezuela's Political Transition
What is the purpose of the joint forum between Venezuela's National Assembly and the interim government?
The forum is intended to initiate formal political transition discussions and reconciliation talks, which are seen as crucial for addressing the needs of the Venezuelan people.
How is the U.S. supporting Venezuela's reconstruction efforts?
The U.S. has committed over $180 million for reconstruction and is assisting Venezuela in accessing international funding and credit, with a total aid package exceeding $386 million.
Who are the key figures involved in the transition agreement for Venezuela?
Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015 National Assembly, and Jorge Rodríguez, a representative of the interim government, are the principal figures in the transition talks.