Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez [AFP=Yonhap News]

An analysis suggests that Venezuela's government debt has reached $240 billion (approximately 370 trillion won), surpassing initial market expectations.

Citing the Financial Times (FT), Reuters reported on the 24th (local time) that Centerview Partners, a U.S.-based financial advisory firm serving as an advisor to the Venezuelan government, is scheduled to release the results of this debt assessment.

This figure is well over double Venezuela's annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $100 billion. While international financial markets had previously estimated Venezuela's government debt to be between $150 billion and $200 billion, it appears the total has increased due to the addition of accrued interest and other factors.

The FT reported that while the Venezuelan government originally planned to officially announce the debt assessment results by the end of June, the timeline may be slightly delayed to early July due to the need for fine-tuning details.

Despite the increased debt scale, the prices of Venezuelan government bonds are on an upward trend. This seems to reflect market optimism that transparent due diligence on assets and liabilities will lead to the easing of U.S. sanctions and the full-scale reconstruction of petroleum infrastructure.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro transported to the U.S. [AP=Yonhap News]

In fact, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez is showing strong confidence in restoring diplomatic relations with the U.S. and attracting private investment.

At an event on the 22nd, she stated that the U.S. ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro had "put Venezuela on the right track." She explained, "It has been almost six months (since Maduro's arrest), and I feel this was the right path," adding that existing conflicts between Venezuela and the U.S. "can be resolved through diplomatic channels."

During the Maduro regime, Interim President Rodríguez was a powerful figure who served as Foreign Minister and Vice President, effectively acting as the second-in-command. However, following Maduro's downfall, she has shifted toward a pro-U.S. and open-market policy, assuming the role of the de facto leader. Meanwhile, former President Maduro is currently imprisoned in New York, U.S., awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges.