US, Venezuela agree to resume diplomatic relations

Washington:The US State Department announced that the United States and Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations.

Venezuela severed diplomatic ties with the United States in January 2019 due to the latter’s continued interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs. All diplomatic personnel from the US embassy in Venezuela withdrew in March of the same year, Xinhua news agency reported.

On January 3, US military forces launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife before transporting them to the United States.

On January 31, a US diplomatic mission arrived in Caracas, marking the resumption of diplomatic contacts between the two countries.

Earlier US President Donald Trump spotlighted a fresh oil arrangement with Venezuela during remarks at a major Texas export hub, arguing that expanded refining and exports from Corpus Christi signal what he called a historic American energy revival.

Speaking at the Port of Corpus Christi, which he described as “one of the largest energy export hubs anywhere in the world,” Trump said his administration had acted swiftly on energy policy. “On day one, I declared a national energy emergency. I ended the Biden export ban. And I told our great Texas energy workers to very simply drill, baby, drill!”

He claimed production gains since returning to office. “Since my inauguration, US oil production is now up by 600,000 barrels a day.” He added: “Natural gas production is at an all-time record high by far.”

A central focus of his speech was Venezuela. Indicating a tanker near the dock, he said: “In fact, 360,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude are right now sitting in the tanker on my left.” He described Caracas as a “new friend and partner” and said, “For the benefit of both our nations, we’re going to refine their oil right here in America and right here in Texas and then export it all over the world.”

–IANS