Rodriguez Consolidates Role as Venezuela Interim President

Caracas: Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, consolidated her international position during the week of April 14-20, 2026, with Venezuela's restoration of relations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the first institutional normalization of this magnitude in more than seven years. Rodríguez assumed power in January 2026, after the arrest and transfer to the US of former President Nicolás Maduro to face drug trafficking and weapons possession charges.

The Trump administration lifted sanctions on Rodríguez in the weeks prior to the restoration of ties with international financial institutions, in Washington's latest move to confer legitimacy on Venezuela's new leadership. The IMF confirmed that it will begin working with Venezuela in three stages: collecting reliable statistical data, providing institutional capacity-building support, and eventually establishing a financial support program.

Colombia and Venezuela: Bilateral Talks

On another regional front, Rodríguez met with Colombian representatives to address the security situation on the shared border, especially following the Catatumbo crisis that left more than 100 dead and 55,000 displaced in early 2026. Border tensions between Venezuela and Colombia are a priority issue for Colombian presidential candidates ahead of the May 31 elections.

Oil Exports

Venezuelan oil exports recovered to 988,000 barrels per day in March 2026, up from 823,000 in January, according to OPEC data. The increase in international crude prices above $116 per barrel, driven by the Iran war, directly benefits Venezuelan export revenues and improves the new government's fiscal position.