Delcy Rodríguez addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday as Venezuela acting president and said elections would occur while the country moves toward democracy, with the people deciding the timing.

She spoke there for the first time as leader after US forces detained Nicolás Maduro in January, following earlier appearances as foreign minister in 2016 and vice president in 2019. She thanked President Donald Trump for diplomatic engagement and a new oil agreement she described as among the largest signed, aiding hemispheric energy, after meeting him Tuesday, and made no reference to Maduro, Hugo Chávez or the Cuban government.

Rodríguez cited two trials this year, namely domestic policy strain with sharper US confrontation and a June 24 double earthquake followed by US-led humanitarian help. She said Venezuela is recovering, including by shifting political relations to dialogue, negotiation and diplomacy.