Delcy Rodríguez, who serves as Venezuela’s acting president, addressed the UN general assembly for the first time since taking office, telling the body that her country is “being reborn.”. She expressed gratitude toward US President Donald Trump for agreeing to restart diplomatic ties following the US military’s removal of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, from the country.
Rodríguez took over after the US military’s raid in January that captured Maduro and brought him to the US to face drug trafficking charges. Maduro is currently being held not far from the organisation’s headquarters as he awaits trial.
Rodríguez’s Speech at the UN
She said that rebuilding the national soul would be the priority, according to “I do not promise you an easy way forward,”.
A Venezuelan leader has not set foot in the US since 2018, when Maduro went to New York for the UN general assembly. This current journey marks the first such trip by a Venezuelan head of state since then, a span of nearly six years.
Rodríguez’s appearance marks a significant shift in Venezuela’s posture toward the US. She spoke directly to the assembled leaders, thanking Trump for his willingness to restore ties.
What made the speech stand out was its plain speaking. Rodríguez did not try to conceal that her own ascent came after a US-led operation took Maduro out of power.
Trump Welcomes Xi to the US
While Rodríguez was speaking, Trump received Chinese leader Xi Jinping in the United States, welcoming him personally on the tarmac at an air force base near Washington DC.
Xi said China and the US should be “partners rather than rivals” and that Chinese and US interests were “deeply intertwined.” He added that “The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the goal of making America great again can fully go hand in hand.”
This year’s second face-to-face meeting between the two leaders took place, following their earlier gathering in Beijing in May.
Trade War Truce Extended
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced that the United States and China have extended their ceasefire on the trade war for two months, with the agreement running through to 10 January. The arrangement followed extended negotiations between Bessent and his Chinese counterpart, vice-premier He Lifeng.
The extension buys time for both sides to assess the situation.
Individual Reports From Other Leaders
The Iranian leader, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the US is the real bully and terrorist in the Middle East, even as he insisted his country has always remained committed to the negotiating table.
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Moscow that the country would respond with force and make the coming winter harsh for Russia unless a ceasefire over energy strikes was reached.
Karol Nawrocki, the Polish president, issued a warning about the state of international law. He said that without accountability, it amounted to nothing more than “a declaration without any real power.”.
Javier Miley condemned the UN as he warned that Argentina would take “matters into our own hands” in its dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.
Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa harshly criticised Israel’s occupation of southern Syria and told the UN the Golan Heights was an inseparable part of his country.
The US Invites Putin to Miami
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States has invited Vladimir Putin to join the G20 summit in Miami, set for December.
Markets React to Xi’s Visit
Asian markets were mixed on Thursday, with Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei in the red, South Korea’s Kospi closed for a holiday, and Japan’s Nikkei up 1.6%.
Two sources cited by Agence France-Presse say no Chinese CEOs are part of Xi’s delegation. On Thursday, top US tech bosses, including leaders of major AI companies, are scheduled to attend a state dinner for Xi Jinping.
What This Means for Venezuela
The remarks from Rodríguez point toward a new stage for Venezuela. She thanked Trump publicly, and her words spoke plainly about the part the US played in her rise.
The motion bears a certain political significance, even if the source declines to elaborate on it beyond that.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs the diplomatic deal between Venezuela and the US and is against a trade war that could cut off those channels. A leader who thanks the man who brought down her predecessor is doing what the paper has always said leaders should do: tell the truth, openly.
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez spoke plainly at the UN, acknowledging the US operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power. That candour is the kind the paper praises, because it keeps the lines of communication open. The paper is sceptical of foreign entanglements, but it backs the deal over the standoff.
The US and China have extended their ceasefire on the trade war for two months, with the agreement running through to 10 January. The paper is against trade wars in general, which is why it wants the channels open for diplomacy and compromise. Rodríguez’s speech shows what open communication looks like in practice.
Key Facts
- The US and China extended their trade war truce to 10 January
- Xi’s last meeting with Trump was in Beijing in May
- The US invited Putin to the G20 summit in Miami in December
| Event | Location |
|---|---|
| Rodríguez’s speech | UN general assembly |
| Xi’s arrival | Air force base near Washington DC |
| Trade truce extension | Negotiated by Bessent and He Lifeng |
| Putin invitation | Announced by Marco Rubio |
The day saw speeches, summits and market moves across the globe.
Source material: “Venezuela being ‘reborn’, Rodríguez tells UN – as it happened,” The Guardian.
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