U.S. pulling out remaining diplomats from Venezuela amid deteriorating conditions
By Mary Beth Sheridan and Mary Beth Sheridan Correspondent covering Mexico and Central America Email Bio Follow Anthony Faiola Anthony Faiola Correspondent covering Latin America, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, human rights, poverty, globalization and economics Email Bio Follow March 12 at 1:39 PM CARACAS, Venezuela — The United States said Tuesday it would pull its remaining diplomatic personnel from Venezuela this week, rupturing relations as the socialist South American country plunges deeper...
But Venezuelan authorities said they were kicking out the American diplomats. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said Tuesday that the ministry had informed the U.S. chargé d’affaires in the country, Jimmy Story, a day earlier that the government was cutting off diplomatic privileges. In astatement, the Foreign Ministry expressed concern that the White House would use “protecting its diplomatic personnel” as a “pretext” for the use of force.
Maduro has blamed the blackouts on U.S. sabotage. But analysts and experts in electrical production have said they were likely caused by poor maintenance and the departure of skilled workers. Pompeo said in an interview with KTRH radio’s “Houston’s Morning News” program that the decision reflected concerns about the diplomats’ safety.
“I am profoundly worried about the detention of the noted journalist @LuisCarlos by Venezuelan intelligence services and about his well-being,” tweeted Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and former president of Chile.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Juan Guaidó, interim president or opposition leader?The State Department's spokesman says news organizations that describe Guaidó as anything other than interim president feed “into the rhetoric of the dictator.”
Read more »
Guaidó appeals to Venezuelan public-sector workers to join anti-government movementMany now support the opposition but are afraid to show it for fear of losing their jobs in the Maduro government, employees said.
Read more »
Venezuela blames U.S. as most of country is plunged into darknessThe outage comes as Venezuela is in the throes of a political struggle between President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
Read more »
Brazil Foreign Minister Calls on Russia, China to Oppose Venezuela’s MaduroBrazil’s foreign minister, Ernesto Araújo, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that his country will put pressure on China, Russia and other emerging-market nations to back Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
Read more »
Bolton: Opposition leader has ‘momentum’ in VenezuelaWhite House National Security Adviser John Bolton insisted that “momentum“ favors Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, more than six weeks after the U.S. first recognized the 35-year-old politician as the country’s acting president
Read more »
Venezuela expels German ambassador for 'meddling,' arrests U.S. journalistVenezuela's government expelled the German ambassador on Wednesday, while p...
Read more »