The U.S. Embassy highlighted on social media the Energy Secretary’s visit as “key for a prosperous Venezuela,” emphasizing the role of the private sector in oil, electricity, and mining potential. Photographs: Presidential Press.
Guacamaya, February 9, 2026. The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, landed this Wednesday in Maiquetía, opening what could be a transformative chapter in bilateral relations, with energy resources as central pillars of the agenda. During his high-level visit, Wright met with Acting President Delcy Rodríguez at Miraflores, where they emphasized concrete plans for trade and shared prosperity.
After arriving around 11:00 AM at Maiquetía Airport, Wright and his team departed at 2:00 PM for the Miraflores Palace, where they held an introductory meeting with Delcy Rodríguez, followed by an expanded session with ministers present. They concluded with joint statements near 6:00 PM, where both leaders outlined a “long-term productive partnership.”
Wright thanked Venezuelan authorities and said that Trump “is passionately committed to absolutely transforming the relationship between the United States and Venezuela.” The goal, he added, is to “bring our countries closer through trade, peace, with jobs and opportunities for Venezuela in partnership with the United States.”
Previously, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez welcomed and thanked the official and his team. She affirmed that Venezuela and the United States are in talks to achieve “a long-term productive partnership that allows for an energy agenda, becoming the driving force of the bilateral relationship and being productive, effective, and beneficial for both countries.”
Regarding future opportunities, Wright mentioned Venezuela’s “enormous” natural resources: among them oil, gas, and mining.
On Venezuela’s side, present were the Vice President for Economy and Finance, Calixto Ortega; the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Anabel Pereira; the Minister of Electric Power, Jorge Elieser Márquez; the President of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), Héctor Obregón Pérez; and Félix Plasencia, Venezuela’s diplomatic representative.
Chris Wright’s agenda in Venezuela
Before Miraflores, Wright was received upon arrival by U.S. Chief Diplomat Laura Dogu; Deputy Minister of Petroleum, Paula Henao; and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrea Corao. After a brief reception in the presidential lounge, the delegation moved to a hotel in Caracas, where they began a working lunch around midday with business representatives.
After the joint statements outside Miraflores Palace, Wright led a press roundtable at the hotel with 17 journalists from Bloomberg, WSJ, Reuters, NYT, CNN, FT, WaPo, AFP, and NPR, without cameras. Later, an NBC interview was scheduled with both Rodríguez and Wright at a quiet location in Caracas.
For Thursday, focusing on oil operations, Wright will visit projects operated by Chevron in the Orinoco Oil Belt, including Petroindependencia (in Morichal, Monagas state) and Petropiar (in Barcelona, Anzoátegui state). In Morichal, the Secretary is expected to tour a central processing plant and an active drilling well.
This visit, described as “historic” by the Department of Energy, seeks to issue licenses, allocate funds (up to $100 billion), establish public-private partnerships, and optimize logistics. While Rodríguez bets on diplomacy to overcome “ups and downs,” Wright carries Trump’s mandate to “restore hemispheric security” through energy.
