Washington, 8 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) - US President Donald Trump said Washington has officially recognized the Venezuelan government as he addressed Latin American and Caribbean leaders on Saturday.

"I'm pleased to say that this week, we have formally recognized the Venezuelan government. We've actually legally recognized them," Trump told the leaders assembled to form a new security alliance in the region.

The US and Venezuela's transitional government recently agreed to resume diplomatic relations.

Since the US military arrested authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro in January, Delcy Rodríguez has been serving as the South American country's acting president.

The Venezuelan opposition, including Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, do not see the Rodríguez government as legitimate. Rodríguez was previously Maduro's vice president.

Washington and other countries did not recognise Maduro's re-election after the 2024 presidential election, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud.

Washington now says the aim of working with Rodríguez's government is to gradually enable the Venezuelan people create the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.

Photo: archive