Delcy Rodriguez's Visit to Türkiye (2026)

Venezuela's Acting State President Delcy Rodriguez undertook a working visit to Türkiye on 8 June 2026 at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the visit, the two leaders held bilateral and delegation-level talks at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul. The talks addressed the development of bilateral relations between Türkiye and Venezuela, particularly in trade, energy, and mining.

^{Venezuela's Acting State President Delcy Rodriguez, at the Presidency Dolmabahçe Office, 8 June 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)}

Burhaneddin Duran, Director of the Presidential Communication Office announced on his social media account that Rodriguez would visit Türkiye in response to President Erdoğan’s invitation. The announcement stated that discussions during the visit would review the multifaceted relations between Türkiye and Venezuela, assess steps to deepen cooperation, and exchange views on current regional and global developments.

According to the Venezuelan press, the visit was part of an international tour that began one week earlier in India.

Rodriguez was received in Istanbul by a delegation led by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar. Following the official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office, President Erdoğan and Rodriguez proceeded to bilateral and delegation-level talks.

The Turkish delegation included Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, Director of Presidential Communication Burhaneddin Duran, and Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç.

The Venezuelan delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil, Minister of Tourism Daniela Cabello, Minister of Science and Technology Gabriela Jiménez, Minister of Transportation Jacqueline Farías, Minister of Foreign Trade Johann Álvarez, and Minister of Communications Miguel Pérez Pirela.

^{Venezuela's Acting State President Delcy Rodriguez, at the Presidency Dolmabahçe Office, 8 June 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)}

According to the Presidential Communication Office, the talks addressed Türkiye-Venezuela bilateral relations and global developments. President Erdoğan stated during the talks that "Türkiye has always stood by its friend, the Venezuelan people". He emphasized that both countries are determined to further advance cooperation in numerous areas, especially trade, energy, and mining.

The talks also evaluated steps to increase bilateral trade volume from its current level to a target of 3 billion US dollars. In addition to energy resources, the discussions highlighted broader cooperation in healthcare, transportation, science, and technology.

Following her meeting with President Erdoğan, Venezuela’s Acting State President Rodriguez posted a video on the official social media account of the Miraflores Palace, highlighting the importance of Türkiye to Venezuela. The video included footage from Dolmabahçe Palace and clips from her meeting with Erdoğan.

^{Venezuela's Acting State President Delcy Rodriguez at the Presidency Dolmabahçe Office, 8 June 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)}

In the video, Rodriguez stated: "We are at Dolmabahçe Palace to meet with President Erdoğan. We aim to further advance our cooperation agenda. Türkiye and Venezuela are steadily developing commercial and economic relations in various areas, including mining, energy, transportation, and air links. We are grateful for the invitation extended by President Erdoğan."

Rodriguez emphasized that Turkish Airlines’ (THY) flights between Caracas and Istanbul have made a significant contribution to relations between the two countries. She noted that her government is working to create international cooperation opportunities in technology, industry, science, and energy to enhance public welfare. Rodriguez highlighted Venezuela’s substantial energy potential, stating: "We wish to further diversify the wealth our country possesses. We want to demonstrate that the Venezuelan people are honest and hardworking."