WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuela’s foreign minister, Oliver Blanco, at the State Department on Monday, as the Trump administration presses Venezuela’s interim government and opposition for quick progress on election preparations.

It was among the highest-level meetings between a senior Trump administration official and a counterpart from acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s government.

Rubio received Blanco in the State Department’s Treaty Room. The two posed for photographers in front of both countries’ flags, and neither man made a statement or took questions with reporters during the photo opportunity.

As of this writing, no State Department readout and no Venezuelan account of the discussion had been published, so what the two discussed has not been reported.

The meeting came about two weeks after Venezuelan authorities and opposition figures agreed on a blueprint to reform the electoral process, with the aim of “free and fair elections” at some point in 2027.

A U.S.-backed roadmap would renew Venezuela’s Supreme Court and National Electoral Council before Rodríguez declares the presidency vacant, which would start a six-month constitutional deadline for a vote.

Rubio said last week the United States would watch events closely and urge all sides to follow the new process. He has said the goal is an election system that gives all parties confidence in the result.

The government Blanco represents took shape after U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro in a January military operation and brought him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges, which he denies.

Rodríguez, who took over, met President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September.

In August, Energy Secretary Chris Wright met Rodríguez in Caracas to finalize what AP described as a “massive oil deal.”

Secretary Rubio has also met opposition leader María Corina Machado, who returned to Venezuela in late October.

Who is Blanco?

Blanco was reportedly named foreign minister on October 29, replacing Félix Plasencia, who was sent to London to help seek the return of Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England, according to reports. Blanco previously served as first deputy minister, a post he held from July. Monday’s meeting in Washington represents the first bilateral meeting since relations were restored.

Blanco has assured that Venezuela will continue strengthening dialogue and cooperation under the Rodríguez government.