Caracas, Venezuela
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, unknown to the United States, on Saturday called on the new government of Joe Biden to “turn the page”, expressed willingness to declare “a new way” in diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington, broken two years ago.
“We are ready to start a new relationship with Joe Biden’s government based on mutual respect, dialogue, communication and understanding,” said Maduro.
Venezuela “is ready to turn the page and create new avenues of respect, dialogue and diplomatic communication with the new United States government,” the president added in a speech to supporters from a balcony of the Miraflores presidential palace. , in the center of Caracas. .
The act coincided with the commemorations on January 23, 1958, the date on which the military dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez fell.
Precisely on January 23, 2019, opposition leader Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself president responsible for Venezuela after the majority of the opposition controlling the unicameral National Assembly declared Maduro an ‘usurper’ and accused him of being re-elected with a ‘fraud’. in 2018.
The Donald Trump administration immediately recognized Guaidó as interim president, and the socialist ruler responded by announcing the severance of relations between Caracas and Washington, tense since the era of the late former President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013).
“Two years ago, I had to respond vigorously and with dignity, and from that very balcony I continued as head of state to sever all political and diplomatic relations with the United States government at the time,” Maduro continued. “Trump is gone!” He celebrated.
Antony Blinken, nominated by Biden as the new secretary of state, has said the White House will continue to recognize Guaidó despite the new Chavista majority in parliament, after the election was boycotted by the opposition – which they labeled fraudulent – and unknown to the states, the European Union and various Latin American countries.
Blinken called Maduro a “cruel dictator.”
Guaidó defends the continuity of the old opposition parliament in the light of the questioning of the parliamentary elections of last 6 January and thus also his position as head of congress, of which he claimed the interim presidency.
Analysts believe the Biden administration will be more moderate and will advocate for international mediation for a gradual transfer of power in Venezuela.