Rubio says talks on Venezuela's democratic transition will begin in early August

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks on Venezuela's political future are set to begin in early August. Rubio said the goal of the negotiations is to secure a democratic transition in the country, though he did not detail which parties would take part.

The announcement comes as Venezuela's political crisis has remained high on the regional agenda for an extended period. Rubio said Washington would support the process but stressed that the final outcome would be up to Venezuelans themselves.

Regional governments and international observers will be watching closely to see whether the talks produce a concrete roadmap. Analysts said the process's success will likely hinge on the participation and transparency of all parties involved.