The Daily Journal — Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, arrived at Istanbul International Airport on Sunday, June 7, after departing from the Republic of India. Officials confirmed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formally invited her to visit the country, although authorities in Caracas had not announced the trip in advance.
A high-level Turkish government delegation welcomed the Venezuelan delegation at the airport with full protocol honors. Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, led the reception alongside Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan and Metropolitan Deputy Mayor Gökhan Gümüşdağ.
Minister Bayraktar officially announced the arrival through a post on X: “We welcomed the Acting President of Venezuela, H.E. Mrs. Delcy Rodríguez, to Istanbul. She arrived in our country at the invitation of our President.”
According to Venezuela’s Presidential Press Office, the visit aims to facilitate meetings with senior officials in Ankara and strengthen diplomatic, commercial, and cooperation ties in several areas of mutual interest.
The acting head of state traveled with a broad ministerial delegation led by Foreign Minister Yván Gil; Vice President for Science, Technology, Ecosocialism, and Health Isabel Iturria; Science and Technology Minister Gabriela Jiménez; Tourism Minister Daniella Cabello; and Transportation Minister Jacqueline Faría.
Türkiye emerged as one of the most important strategic allies of Nicolás Maduro’s administration before his removal from power following the U.S.-led military operation in January. Over the last decade, both countries expanded cooperation agreements in energy, tourism, agriculture, mining, defense, and other sectors.
Only hours before the unexpected landing in Istanbul, the presidential aircraft departed from Mumbai, where Rodríguez concluded a five-day official visit to India. On social media, she described the trip as “highly successful” after Venezuela recorded historic levels of crude oil exports to the Asian nation.
Rodríguez is also scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during her stay in Istanbul.
