Venezuela recalled its diplomats from seven Latin American countries
In response to criticism and non-recognition of the election results from a number of South American countries, the Venezuelan government decided to recall its diplomats from Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Chile. TASS reported this.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, in its official statement, called the actions of these countries a «vile precedent» and an «attack on the sovereignty» of Venezuela. The government considers the statements about the elections to be interference in the country's internal affairs. In particular, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that Venezuela reserves the right to take «political and legal measures» to defend its right to self-determination and peaceful coexistence.
This decision to recall diplomats is also accompanied by a demand for the governments of the countries in question to immediately recall their representatives from Venezuela. Thus, diplomatic relations between Venezuela and a number of its neighbors will be temporarily suspended.
On July 28, Venezuela held presidential elections, in which, according to the National Electoral Council, Nicolás Maduro received 51.2% of the vote, which corresponds to 5,150,092 voters. His main rival, Edmundo González, a candidate from far-right parties, received 44.2% of the vote (4,445,978 voters). Maduro, who has been president since 2013, is now preparing for his inauguration, which will take place on January 10, 2025.
Despite the official election results, many international observers and opposition forces in Venezuela have expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the process.
Some countries, including the United States and the European Union, have already expressed dissatisfaction with the election process, questioning its transparency and fairness. At the same time, several Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Argentina, have called for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The recall of Venezuelan diplomats and the demand for the withdrawal of foreign representatives from the country could further isolate Venezuela on the international stage. It could also worsen the humanitarian situation in a country already suffering from a deep economic crisis and resource shortages.
How events will unfold in the coming months remains unclear, but one thing is clear: the political crisis in Venezuela continues to have repercussions throughout Latin America and beyond.