VENEZUELA · POLITICS
Key Facts
- —What happened Delcy Rodríguez arrived in Rome on Sunday, 11 October.
- —The event The FAO’s World Food Forum runs until Friday, 16 October.
- —The delegation Four ministers and two deputy foreign ministers travel with her.
- —Her message She blamed sanctions for reversing Venezuela’s earlier “zero hunger” gains.
- —The US link US Treasury sanctioned her in 2018, then delisted her in April 2026.
- —Next step She is scheduled to take part in the forum on Monday.
Venezuela’s leader took her sanctions message to a United Nations stage in Rome, with her foreign minister at her side.
Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, arrived in Rome on Sunday, 11 October, to attend the World Food Forum. The forum is run by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations agency for food and farming.
On arrival she said sanctions had pushed Venezuela back from its earlier goal of ending hunger. For US readers, the trip matters because the US Treasury kept Rodríguez herself on its sanctions list from 2018 until April 2026.
Who Came to Rome
Venezuela’s presidential press office, Prensa Presidencial, said Rodríguez was received by Máximo Torero, the FAO’s chief economist and coordinator of the forum. Venezuela’s ambassador to Italy, María Elena Uzzo, and its permanent representative to the FAO, Marilyn Di Luca, also met her.
Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia and Food Minister Carlos Leal Tellería, a major general, lead the delegation with her. Communication Minister Miguel Pérez Pirela, also a sectoral vice-president, travels too.
Juan Escalona, the minister who runs the president’s office, also travelled. Two deputy foreign ministers complete the group: Oliver Blanco, who covers Europe and North America, and Joaquín Pérez, who handles multilateral affairs.
What Rodríguez Said About Sanctions
Prensa Presidencial quoted Rodríguez describing food as “a fundamental human right.” She called Venezuela “a country that reached its goal of zero hunger,” before “the whole process derived from the sanctions.”
She added that Venezuela is “showing important progress” towards that goal again. The press office said the forum gathers more than 190 international delegations, a figure it did not break down.
Rodríguez did not name any country in the quoted remarks.
The World Food Forum Programme
The business daily Banca y Negocios reported that FAO chief Qu Dongyu opens the World Food Forum on Monday, 12 October. The opening is at noon Rome time, which is 6 a.m. Eastern Time.
The paper said a high-level opening panel of heads of state follows and listed Rodríguez among the announced speakers. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will speak by video.
It said UN chief António Guterres and Pope Leo XIV send messages for the 16 October close, World Food Day. Banca y Negocios also noted that the trip follows Rodríguez’s appearance at the UN General Assembly.
What It Means for You
For US investors watching Venezuela, the trip shows Caracas seeking a visible role at UN agencies. The sanctions framing will matter to anyone tracking how Washington adjusts its measures on Venezuelan officials and companies.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Rodríguez on 25 September 2018. At the time she held the powers of executive vice-president, according to the Treasury release.
OFAC removed her from its Specially Designated Nationals list on 1 April 2026, its public notice shows.
For ordinary travellers, nothing changes from this visit. US travel advice on Venezuela is set by the State Department, not by summit diplomacy.
What Is Not Known
The presidency has not published any list of bilateral meetings in Rome. It is not known whether Rodríguez will meet Italian officials, the Vatican or any US representative.
It is also unclear what Venezuela will propose at the forum beyond its general food-security message. OFAC’s notice of 1 April 2026 removing her from the sanctions list gave no stated reason.
Whether the pope’s closing message will be delivered in person was not stated. The Vatican has not confirmed his role in the sources reviewed.
What Comes Next
Rodríguez is due to take part in the World Food Forum on Monday, 12 October, according to Prensa Presidencial. The forum continues until Friday, 16 October.
The visit does not mean any change in US or European sanctions policy. It is a multilateral event, not a bilateral summit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Delcy Rodríguez in Rome?
She is attending the World Food Forum, a meeting run by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization at its Rome headquarters. The forum runs until 16 October.
Who Is Travelling With Her?
Four ministers travel with her, including Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia and Food Minister Carlos Leal Tellería. Two deputy foreign ministers are also in the delegation.
What Did She Say About Sanctions?
She said Venezuela once reached its zero-hunger goal before sanctions set it back. She added that the country is again making progress towards that goal.
Is Rodríguez Under US Sanctions?
No longer. The US Treasury designated her on 25 September 2018 and removed her from its sanctions list on 1 April 2026.
When Does She Speak?
Her participation is scheduled for Monday, 12 October, when the forum opens at noon Rome time. That is 6 a.m. Eastern Time.
Sources: Prensa Presidencial, arrival in Rome; Prensa Presidencial, Rodríguez statement; US Treasury, 25 September 2018; OFAC, 1 April 2026 removal; Banca y Negocios (all accessed 11 October 2026).