A top Venezuelan negotiator reported that Caracas and Washington agreed to work on improving the relations between the two nations. The US has waged an economic war and supported multiple coup attempts against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In a post on X, President Nicolas Maduro’s top negotiator Jorge Rodriguez said the two sides agreed to a “willingness” to “improve relations” during an initial meeting. The negotiator wrote that the US and Venezuelan teams agreed to continue the talks.
The US has maintained sanctions on Venezuela for over a decade. Under President Donald Trump, the economic war escalated to a maximum-strength attempt to destroy the Venezuelan economy and lead to the overthrow of Maduro. Additionally, during the Trump presidency, the US-backed Juan Guaido, who made several unsuccessful overt coup attempts.
The Biden White House has largely continued Trump’s policy. At times, Biden has engaged Caracas in talks but conditioned all sanctions relief in Venezuela to comply with US dictates in Venezuelan presidential elections. Previous negotiations between Caracas and Washington broke down when Venezuela disallowed the US-preferred candidate to run for president.
The economic war on Venezuela has pushed Caracas into developing ties with other nations sanctioned by the US, including Iran. The sanctions have also impoverished the Venezuelan people, contributing to tens of thousands of deaths.
