Jailed ex-leader Maduro welcomes ‘any path to dialogue’ in Venezuela ahead of US talks
Venezuela’s imprisoned former leader Nicolas Maduro on Sunday welcomed “any path to dialogue”, ahead of a US-backed meeting in the coming week between representatives of the Latin American country’s interim government and opposition leaders. “We welcome any path to dialogue that helps consolidate peace, coexistence, and reconciliation among Venezuelans,” read a message posted on the official…
Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's former leader currently imprisoned in New York, expressed on Sunday his openness to any form of dialogue aimed at restoring peace, coexistence, and reconciliation among Venezuelans. This statement came ahead of a US-backed meeting scheduled for the upcoming week between representatives of the interim government and opposition leaders.
The deposed president, who was arrested and captured in a US military operation in January, had claimed victory in the 2024 presidential elections, despite voting tally sheets indicating his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez had won the majority.
In other news, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic reached an agreement on Sunday to work towards restoring diplomatic relations that were severed two years ago following allegations of fraud in Maduro's re-election. The two countries have now put forth a roadmap for gradual normalization of their diplomatic ties, as per a statement from Venezuela's foreign ministry.
Maduro, a leftist often criticized as a harsh autocrat who presided over the collapse of Venezuela's oil-rich economy, was ousted and arrested by US forces in early January, taken to New York where he is currently under trial for drug trafficking charges. The former bus driver, handpicked by Hugo Chavez to succeed him, had declared victory in the 2024 presidential elections and a mandate for a third term, a claim that was disputed by the then US-backed opposition.
After the ousting of Maduro, the Trump administration allowed Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez to remain in power as acting president, with a clear instruction to open the country to US companies interested in exploiting its oil, minerals, and other resources. As Rodriguez sought to end Venezuela's international isolation, Caracas and Santo Domingo restored flights between the two countries and consular services.
In recent weeks, Venezuela also agreed to work towards restoring diplomatic ties with Peru and Chile, both of which severed relations with Caracas following the election controversy.
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