MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 12:46 UTC

 

 

Maduro gives US two weeks to cut size of Caracas embassy staff to 17

Tuesday, March 3rd 2015 - 06:46 UTC
Full article 16 comments
The move came after Maduro lashed out at what he called U.S. “conspiracies” against his populist government The move came after Maduro lashed out at what he called U.S. “conspiracies” against his populist government

Venezuela's government has given the U.S. two weeks to slash the size of its embassy staff in Caracas to 17 diplomats as tensions between the two nations rise. Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez made the announcement Monday after a meeting with the top American diplomat in Caracas. She said it is up to the U.S. to decide which of an estimated 100 diplomats it wishes to send home.

 The move came after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out Saturday at what he called U.S. “conspiracies” against his populist government and ordered the foreign ministry to reduce the number of officials at the American embassy from 100 to 17. He also imposed a visa requirements for American tourists.

Maduro claimed that Venezuela has detained American spies, including one he said was a U.S. pilot of Latino origin.

The Venezuelan president often criticizes the United States for what he says is meddling in his country's affairs. The United States has not exchanged ambassadors with the South American country since 2010.

Meanwhile, four American missionaries from North Dakota, detained and deported from Venezuela last week, are recovering on the nearby island of Aruba. It is unclear whether the missionaries were the Americans Maduro was referring to when he said the government had arrested U.S. citizens engaged in espionage.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Klingon

    Easy fix: Block all payments from Citgo to Venezuela. Watch him squeal then.
    This is just more smoke and bullshit to keep his intellectually deficient supporters entertained.

    Mar 03rd, 2015 - 09:42 am 0
  • GeoffWard2

    COUNTRY Venezuela; NO. OF LOANS 16 ; AMOUNT $56.3B

    Massively greater loans from the USA than any other country in the continent.
    Maduro obviously thinks that he can replace this by loans from China - and the US staff by people from China.
    He may be right.

    Mar 03rd, 2015 - 11:46 am 0
  • Underledge

    Of course the United States would never interfere in another sovereign countries government.

    Mar 03rd, 2015 - 11:48 am 0
Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!