The IMF said Thursday that it was looking into setting up an office in Venezuela following a recent meeting between IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said the proposed office would strengthen the fund's presence in the country, but emphasised that the move should not be interpreted as a sign that Venezuela is seeking a financial rescue or an IMF-backed economic programme.
Kozack said Georgieva had met Rodríguez during the recent UN General Assembly, where the two officials discussed Venezuela and the IMF's engagement with the country.
She told reporters that the fund was looking to establish an office in Venezuela, while making clear that there had been no request from the Venezuelan government for financial assistance.
At this stage, Kozack said, Venezuela had not requested an IMF programme “or any other sort of funding.”
The distinction is significant because the establishment of an IMF office does not, by itself, mean that a country has entered negotiations for a loan programme. The fund's presence can also facilitate dialogue, technical engagement and economic assessment between the institution and national authorities.
The proposed move comes as Venezuela continues to navigate major economic challenges and political changes, making international financial institutions' engagement with the country a closely watched issue.
For the IMF, establishing a formal presence could provide a channel for more regular contact with Venezuelan authorities, while allowing the institution to monitor economic developments and maintain technical dialogue.
Kozack nevertheless sought to draw a clear line between the planned office and any potential future financing arrangement. For now, she said, there is no IMF programme under discussion and no request for funding from Caracas.
The comments leave open the possibility of deeper IMF engagement in the future, but the fund's current position is that its planned Venezuelan office should not be viewed as evidence of an imminent lending arrangement.