WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Venezuela’s interim leader, President Delcy Rodriguez, said she has been invited to visit the United States, according to an interview published by NBC News on Thursday as U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Caracas.
“I’ve been invited to the United States,” Rodriguez said. “We’re looking at going there once the partnership is established and we can move everything forward.”
Rodriguez, the former vice president and oil minister, was sworn in as interim president of Venezuela in early January after the United States deposed President Nicolas Maduro.
She and Wright face the daunting task of organizing the recovery of Venezuela’s oil industry after decades of underinvestment, mismanagement and U.S. sanctions while putting U.S. investors at the forefront.
However, Rodriguez told NBC she believed Maduro, who is imprisoned in the United States on drug and weapons charges, remains the legitimate leader of their country.
“I can tell you that President Nicolás Maduro is the legitimate president. As a lawyer, I will tell you that I am. Both President Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores are innocent,” she said.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Susan Heavey)
