President Donald Trump is planning what would be his first publicly known face-to-face meeting with Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The encounter would mark a notable step in the warming relations between Washington and Caracas following months of direct talks conducted largely by phone.

Trump previously signaled openness to the meeting while aboard Air Force One on Sunday, responding, "I may be" when asked about the possibility. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also indicated such a bilateral discussion would probably occur if Rodríguez attends the assembly.

The high-level debate at the 81st UN General Assembly runs from Tuesday, September 22, through Saturday, September 26. Rodríguez's attendance has not been formally confirmed, but reports indicate she is preparing to travel to New York.

The planned meeting comes amid strengthened U.S.-Venezuela ties after the January 2026 capture and removal of former President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration has recognized Rodríguez's government, restored diplomatic relations broken since 2019, and advanced energy cooperation, including a recent oil agreement that gives the United States greater access to Venezuelan crude reserves.

Trump has highlighted the practical benefits of the relationship, noting that the United States is now receiving millions of barrels of oil per month from Venezuela. This pragmatic engagement aligns with priorities of securing energy resources and regional stability.

The meeting would represent the first direct encounter between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in more than a decade. It follows a period of phone-based diplomacy and builds on earlier contacts between Rubio and Rodríguez.

Officials have not released details on the agenda, though energy issues and broader bilateral cooperation are expected to feature prominently.