CARACAS (Realist English). Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has agreed on an agenda for future talks with United States officials after meeting with a delegation from Washington. Qatar’s TV channel Al Jazeera reports.
“Last Saturday [March 5 – Realist English] night a delegation from the government of the United States of America arrived in Venezuela, I received it here at the presidential palace. We had a meeting, I could describe it as respectful, cordial, very diplomatic… I have confirmed to the US delegation our will that through diplomacy, with respect and with hope for a better world, we can move forward on an agenda that ensures prosperity and peace”, Maduro said in a broadcast on state media.
According to him, the meeting in Caracas lasted two hours. Negotiations will continue, Maduro promised, without giving a specific date. According to Reuters, the American delegation was led by the White House Chief Adviser on Latin America Juan Gonzalez, U.S. Ambassador James Story, as well as the special representative of the US President for hostages Roger Carstens.
The White House explained that the purpose of the trip was to discuss energy security issues, as well as the cases of 9 US citizens who are in prisons in Venezuela. The Biden administration is exploring options to reduce Russian oil imports without harming American consumers.
Maduro, with whom Washington severed relations in 2019, is one of the few heads of state who have assured Russian President Vladimir Putin of their support. Since 2019, the White House considers Juan Guaido the legitimate president of Venezuela.
The example of the United States was then followed by almost 60 countries of the world. In February 2022, Washington made it clear that it was ready to reconsider its sanctions policy against Venezuela if negotiations between the Maduro government and the opposition were successful.
