Venezuela on Friday said it had launched talks with the US on restoring diplomatic ties, days after US forces deposed Nicolas Maduro as its president.
It was the latest sign of cooperation following Maduro’s capture and US President Donald Trump’s claim to be “in charge” of the South American country.
Officials said US diplomats were in Caracas to discuss reopening the country’s embassy, while Trump met with oil companies in Washington over his plans to access Venezuela’s huge crude reserves.
Photo: Reuters
The government of Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez “has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the government of the United States of America, aimed at re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries,” Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil said.
John McNamara, the top US’ diplomat in Colombia, and other personnel “traveled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations,” a US official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Venezuela said it would be reciprocating by sending a delegation to Washington.
Rodriguez condemned “the serious, criminal, illegal and illegitimate attack” by the US and said “Venezuela will continue to confront this aggression through the diplomatic route.”
Trump said he had called off a second wave of attacks on Venezuela due to the prisoner releases, and suggested he might use force again to get his way in Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
He pressed top oil executives to invest in Venezuela’s reserves, but was met with a cautious reception — with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods dismissing the country as “uninvestable” without sweeping reforms.
Foreign firms had enjoyed no meaningful protections under Maduro, “but now you have total security. It’s a whole different Venezuela,” Trump said, adding that companies would only deal with Washington, not Caracas, when exploiting Venezuela’s oil resources.
Trump earlier said that oil companies promised to invest US$100 billion in Venezuela, whose oil infrastructure is creaky after years of mismanagement and sanctions.
He had earlier announced a plan for the US to sell between 30 million and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, with the money to be used at his discretion.
Trump promised any funds sent to Caracas would be used to buy only US-made products.
Washington has also maintained maritime pressure on oil tankers in the Caribbean, where it seized a fifth tanker carrying Venezuelan crude — oil that would be sold, Trump said.
State-owned oil company PDVSA confirmed that one vessel was returning to Venezuelan waters, describing it as the “first successful joint operation” with Washington.
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