Venezuela has announced that it is embarking on an "exploratory" diplomatic process with the US, just days after the military abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. According to the Venezuelan government, the move aims to restore formal ties between the two countries.
The decision comes as US State Department officials are visiting Caracas, with Venezuela set to reciprocate by sending a delegation to Washington. The government led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said it is willing to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the US, despite the country's strained relations with the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
The relationship between the two countries has been on ice since 2019, when Trump recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, effectively ending diplomatic ties. Since then, the US has maintained a presence in Colombia and handled Venezuela affairs from there.
However, with the recent crisis unfolding in Venezuela, Rodriguez has expressed a willingness to soften her tone on cooperation with the US. She called for peace and dialogue, rather than war, as her country faces significant challenges, including economic sanctions and oil embargos imposed by Washington.
The Trump administration has maintained a tough stance on Venezuela, threatening military pressure and sanctions to assert its influence over the country's government and oil industry. Maduro remains in a US federal facility pending his trial on "narco-terrorism" charges.
Despite these tensions, Trump recently announced that he had cancelled planned attacks on Venezuela, citing increased cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed optimism about working together to rebuild Venezuela's oil and gas infrastructure.
However, UN experts have warned that Washington's actions in Venezuela amount to a clear violation of international law. With diplomatic efforts underway, it remains to be seen whether Venezuela and the US can find common ground amidst their deep-seated differences.
The decision comes as US State Department officials are visiting Caracas, with Venezuela set to reciprocate by sending a delegation to Washington. The government led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said it is willing to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the US, despite the country's strained relations with the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
The relationship between the two countries has been on ice since 2019, when Trump recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, effectively ending diplomatic ties. Since then, the US has maintained a presence in Colombia and handled Venezuela affairs from there.
However, with the recent crisis unfolding in Venezuela, Rodriguez has expressed a willingness to soften her tone on cooperation with the US. She called for peace and dialogue, rather than war, as her country faces significant challenges, including economic sanctions and oil embargos imposed by Washington.
The Trump administration has maintained a tough stance on Venezuela, threatening military pressure and sanctions to assert its influence over the country's government and oil industry. Maduro remains in a US federal facility pending his trial on "narco-terrorism" charges.
Despite these tensions, Trump recently announced that he had cancelled planned attacks on Venezuela, citing increased cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed optimism about working together to rebuild Venezuela's oil and gas infrastructure.
However, UN experts have warned that Washington's actions in Venezuela amount to a clear violation of international law. With diplomatic efforts underway, it remains to be seen whether Venezuela and the US can find common ground amidst their deep-seated differences.