Venezuelan government and opposition open US-backed talks
Delegations from the Venezuelan government and one sector of the opposition met on Thursday in Caracas to open negotiations backed by the United States, in the first face-to-face encounter since Nicolás Maduro's detention by US forces on January 3.
The Venezuelan government and one faction of the opposition have commenced US-backed talks in Caracas, marking the first face-to-face encounter since Nicolás Maduro's detention by US forces on January 3. The negotiations, held behind closed doors at the La Carlota Convention Center, aim to address three key areas: assistance for earthquake victims, strengthening democracy, and guarantees for political and civil rights.
The government delegation is led by Jorge Rodríguez, while the opposition delegation is headed by Dinorah Figuera. The US has expressed its commitment to supporting a Venezuelan-led process, outlining a three-phase plan for stabilization, economic recovery, political reconciliation, and a peaceful transition. However, the talks face resistance, with opposition leader María Corina Machado absent and Diosdado Cabello dismissing the initiative.
Brief written by urgent.news from MercoPress's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
