Venezuela has a "sovereign right" to oil exploration, says Delcy Rodríguez at COP31

Delcy Rodríguez, interim president of Venezuela, asserted the country's sovereign right to oil exploration at COP31, emphasizing the balance between energy development and environmental protection. She argued that energy growth does not inherently contradict environmental conservation and called for a just energy transition that does not exacerbate energy poverty. Rodríguez highlighted the need for developed nations to fulfill climate financing commitments to support developing countries. Following the detention of Nicolás Maduro, she has sought closer ties with the U.S. regarding oil exploration, previously state-controlled. The U.S. withdrew from formal climate cooperation at COP31 under President Trump, who denies climate change.