The United States resumed dialogue with Venezuela weeks before the elections: “Democratic change will not be easy”

The US resumed dialogue with Venezuela less than a month before the elections: “We are aware that democratic change will not be easy” (EFE)

USA and Venezuela confirmed this Wednesday that, following months of clashes and just over three weeks before the presidential elections in the Caribbean country, they resumed dialogue with the objective of “improving bilateral relations”.

From Washington, the State Department’s representative for Latin America and one of the main interlocutors between the Nicolás Maduro regime and the opposition, Brian Nichols, declared that “we are always open to dialogue, we have said this many times,” while White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said that “We welcome” this instance “in good faith”.

The objective of this space, added the Joe Biden Administration, will be to search once more for guarantees from Chavismo that the presidential elections to be held on July 28 will be fair and competitive.

“We are aware that democratic change will not be easy and requires a serious commitment”, Jean-Pierre continued, highlighting the importance of Wednesday’s move, and stressed that “we remain committed to supporting the will of the people of Venezuela and a path towards democratic governance through competitive and inclusive elections.”

The United States has always said it is open to dialogue and welcomed this instance “in good faith” (EFE)

The Venezuelan side was headed by the chief negotiator of the Miraflores Palace, Jorge Rodriguez, who also reported on the virtual meeting of the last few hours. In a message posted on his X account, he wrote that it was broadcast “the willingness of both governments to work together to gain trust and improve relations” and of “maintaining communications in a respectful and constructive manner”.

“To continue to regain mutual trust and relations between governments, we must respect the principles of self-determination, sovereignty and reciprocity” and “we will always respond with the truth,” he added.

With these last statements, the Chavista took advantage of the opportunity to attack the recent condemnations by the United States for its persecution of politicians and dissidents, which Caracas considers false and an interference in its sovereignty.

“We express our rejection of the misrepresentations which have been repeatedly published by spokespersons of the American government regarding this dialogue,” he noted.

Rodriguez mentioned the “misrepresentations” of the United States Government regarding the actions of the regime of which he is a part (EFE)

On the other hand, the President of Parliament also commented that at the end of 2023 White House officials held secret meetings in Qatar with their delegation, which gave way to the signature of the Barbados Agreement and with it, the prisoner exchange and the temporary cessation of some sanctions regarding Venezuela.

That is why he demanded that “the dialogue should be limited to what was agreed in Qatar,” despite the fact that his side was the one that repeatedly failed to comply with what was signed in that document, such as with the ratification of the disqualification of Maria Corina Machado, the several politicians banned from running for office, the persecution of dissidents, attempts to sabotage the Democratic Unitary Platform campaign and the refusal to release political prisoners, among other issues.

Relations between the United States and Venezuela have been practically non-existent since the White House in 2019 ignored the alleged victory of Nicolás Maduro in the elections in which allegations of fraud abounded. As a result, Washington imposed a battery of sanctions which remains in place to this day, but which has not prevented Chavismo from being limited in its actions.

Maduro decided to resume talks just over three weeks before the elections, so it remains to be seen what his real intentions are with this (AP)

Under the Barbados Agreement, the United States agreed to reduce some of these measures – specifically those on oil – as a sign of confidence in what had been signed, although, given Maduro’s failure to keep his word and the dismissal of repeated warnings, they ended up being reinstated.

Now, three weeks away from the elections and following “thinking regarding it for two months,” the Chavista leader says he is willing to lead new talks, although it remains to be seen what his real objectives are.

(With information from AFP, EFE and Europa Press)

US Resumes Dialogue with Venezuela Ahead of Elections: “Democratic Change Will Not Be Easy”

The United States and Venezuela have resumed dialogue less than a month before the presidential elections in the Caribbean nation. The announcement came following months of tension between the two countries, with the US imposing sanctions on Venezuela in response to concerns regarding human rights and democratic backsliding.

The State Department’s representative for Latin America, Brian Nichols, stated that the US remains open to dialogue with Venezuela and that they welcome the opportunity to engage “in good faith.” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the US commitment to supporting the will of the Venezuelan people and their path towards democratic governance.

Focus on Fair and Competitive Elections

The US has made it clear that the resumption of dialogue is contingent on Venezuela holding fair and competitive elections. The Biden administration has expressed concern regarding the lack of democratic guarantees in the upcoming election, and the dialogue is seen as a means to address these concerns.

“We are aware that democratic change will not be easy and requires a serious commitment,” Jean-Pierre said, highlighting the challenges ahead. She added that the US remains committed to supporting the people of Venezuela and their right to freely choose their leaders.

Venezuela’s Perspective

The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, has also expressed willingness to engage in dialogue, with Venezuelan Chief Negotiator Jorge Rodriguez stating that both governments are committed to improving relations and building trust. He emphasized the importance of respecting principles of self-determination, sovereignty, and reciprocity.

Rodriguez also took the opportunity to criticize the US for its allegations of persecution of politicians and dissidents in Venezuela, calling them false and an interference in the country’s sovereignty. He stated that the dialogue should focus on the agreements reached in Qatar, which led to the Barbados Agreement, involving prisoner exchange and temporary sanctions relief.

Barbados Agreement and its Implications

The Barbados Agreement, signed in 2023, saw the US agree to reduce some sanctions in exchange for Venezuela’s commitment to democratic reforms. However, the agreement has been largely ineffective, with Maduro failing to uphold his end of the bargain. This failure resulted in the US reinstating some of the sanctions that had been lifted.

The current dialogue comes just three weeks before the Venezuelan election, raising questions regarding Maduro’s intentions. Some observers believe that he may be seeking to use the dialogue as a means to legitimize his regime and improve relations with the US, potentially leading to the removal of remaining sanctions. However, others contend that Maduro is merely employing a tactic to appease international concerns without actually committing to meaningful democratic reforms.

A Complex Situation

The resumption of dialogue between the US and Venezuela represents a significant step towards addressing the long-standing political crisis in the country. However, the situation remains complex, with both sides carrying their own baggage and harboring different motivations.

The success of the dialogue will depend on whether both parties are genuinely willing to compromise and make concrete progress towards a more democratic Venezuela. The international community will be closely watching the developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and a return to democratic principles in the country.

Key Takeaways

• The US and Venezuela have resumed dialogue following months of tension, focusing on holding fair and competitive elections in the upcoming presidential election.
• The US has expressed concerns regarding the lack of democratic guarantees in Venezuela and is seeking to ensure a transparent and inclusive electoral process.
• The Venezuelan government has also shown willingness to engage in dialogue, stressing the importance of self-determination, sovereignty, and reciprocity.
• The resumption of dialogue comes following the failure of the Barbados Agreement, raising questions regarding Maduro’s true intentions and the effectiveness of the dialogue.
• The success of the dialogue will depend on both sides’ commitment to compromise and concrete progress towards democratic reforms.