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Venezuela Seeks US Talks to Restore Embassies Amid Security Review

The Venezuelan government has announced its intention to begin exploratory talks with the United States to restore full diplomatic missions in both countries. This comes as U.S. diplomatic and security personnel, including Chargé d'Affaires John T. McNamara, traveled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased reopening of the U.S. Embassy. Concurrently, Venezuela's statement paired this diplomatic overture with sharp accusations against Washington, alleging "criminal aggression" and the illegal kidnapping of its leadership. The U.S. Embassy, however, maintains its highest-level travel warning for Venezuela, citing severe security risks and an inability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.

Key Points: Venezuela-US Diplomatic Talks Begin as Embassy Review Launched

  • Venezuela proposes exploratory diplomatic talks with US
  • US personnel assess Caracas for potential embassy reopening
  • Venezuela accuses US of aggression and kidnapping
  • US maintains highest-level travel warning for Venezuela
2 min read

Venezuela seeks talks with US as embassy review begins

Venezuela proposes exploratory talks with the US to restore diplomatic missions, while US officials conduct an on-ground security assessment in Caracas.

"to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process... aimed at restoring diplomatic missions in both countries - Venezuelan Government"

Washington, Jan 10

The Venezuelan government said it wants to begin exploratory talks with Washington to restore diplomatic missions, even as the United States launched an initial on-the-ground review in Caracas amid ongoing security warnings.

In a statement, the Venezuelan government said it has decided "to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the Government of the United States of America, aimed at restoring diplomatic missions in both countries." It said the move was guided by "national sovereignty and the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace."

The announcement came as US officials confirmed that diplomatic and security personnel had traveled to the Venezuelan capital to assess conditions for a possible reopening of the US Embassy.

"As President Trump said, we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision," a senior State Department official said.

"On January 9, US diplomatic and security personnel from the VAU, including Charge d'Affaires John T. McNamara, traveled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations," a senior State Department official said.

The Venezuelan statement, however, paired the diplomatic overture with sharp accusations against Washington. It said Venezuela had been the victim of "a criminal, illegitimate, and illegal aggression against its territory and its people," claiming the action led to "more than one hundred deaths of civilians and military personnel" in violation of international law.

The statement also alleged "the illegal kidnapping of the Constitutional President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and the First Lady, Cilia Flores," calling it a serious breach of the immunity of heads of state and international legal norms.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Caracas reiterated its highest-level travel warning for Venezuela, saying the security situation remains "fluid." The embassy urged US citizens not to travel to the country, citing "severe risks to Americans," including wrongful detention, crime, civil unrest and limited access to health care.

The embassy said no commercial flights are operating in or out of Venezuela, complicating evacuation options, and noted that all consular services remain unavailable. "The US government continues to be unable to provide emergency services to US citizens in Venezuela," it said.

The United States withdrew its diplomatic personnel from Caracas and suspended embassy operations in March 2019 amid a worsening political crisis. Since then, Washington has advised Americans against travel to Venezuela and has handled consular matters through the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
The statement from Caracas is quite contradictory - seeking talks while accusing the US of "illegal kidnapping" of their President? 🤔 It feels like posturing. Genuine diplomacy requires dropping such extreme rhetoric first.
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Aditya G
As an Indian who has seen the value of non-alignment, I think this is a positive step. The world needs more bridges, not walls. But the US travel warning is a serious concern – no commercial flights is a major red flag for any citizen's safety.
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Sarah B
The security situation described is alarming. It reminds me that while governments talk, it's ordinary people and diplomats on the ground who face the real risks. Hope the assessment team stays safe.
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Karthik V
Venezuela's economy is in shambles. Maybe they finally realize they need to engage with the world, including the US, to get out of this crisis. National sovereignty is important, but so is the welfare of your citizens. Jai Hind.
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Nikhil C
A respectful criticism: The article is very US-centric. It would be good to have more insight into what the Venezuelan public thinks about this move. Are they hopeful, or skeptical of their own government's motives?

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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