US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco in Washington on Monday as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on the country's interim government and opposition groups to accelerate preparations for elections expected to be held next year.
The meeting at the State Department came just two weeks after Venezuelan authorities and opposition representatives agreed on a framework to reform the country's electoral system to facilitate free and fair elections in 2027.
Neither Rubio nor Blanco made any comments as they posed for photographs ahead of their talks.
According to a written statement from the State Department, the two officials discussed progress in Venezuela-led reconciliation efforts, including institutional reforms aimed at laying the groundwork for free, fair and credible elections.
Rubio also called for the release of the remaining political prisoners in Venezuela, the department said.
In his latest major remarks on Venezuela last week, Rubio said the Trump administration would closely monitor developments and urge all parties to follow the newly agreed process.
He said Washington's objective was to help establish a sustainable electoral framework that would give all sides confidence in the voting process.
Monday's talks marked one of the highest-level meetings between a senior Trump administration official and a representative of the government led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Blanco also met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who shared a photograph of the meeting on social media, saying the US administration was committed to supporting Venezuela's economic recovery and expanding its energy production.
Rodríguez met with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Earlier, Energy Secretary Chris Wright travelled to Caracas in August and held talks with Rodríguez and senior Venezuelan officials, leading to the conclusion of a major oil deal.
Rodríguez assumed power in Venezuela following a surprise US military operation in January that captured then-President Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges, which he denies.
Rubio has also held meetings with the speakers of Venezuela's current and former parliaments, as well as opposition leader María Corina Machado, who returned to the country last month.