German media: After arresting Maduro, US and Venezuela start diplomatic talks

Several days after the U.S. military took military action to capture and remove former Venezuelan President Maduro, U.S. officials recently visited the country. Caracas stated that negotiations have begun with the Trump administration to restore diplomatic relations.

After the U.S. military's dramatic military raid last week, which led to the arrest and removal of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (Nicolas Maduro) and his wife Cilia Flores, Venezuela and the United States have taken the first step toward restoring diplomatic relations.

The Venezuelan government said on Friday that with a team of U.S. diplomats and security personnel arriving, it has started negotiations with the United States to mend relations. The U.S. Department of State confirmed in a statement that the delegation went to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment of the possibility of re-opening the embassy in Venezuela.

The government led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez stated that it has decided to "initiate exploratory diplomatic processes" with the U.S. government to "restore embassies and consulates between the two countries." Rodriguez previously served as Maduro's deputy. The Venezuelan side also plans to send a delegation to Washington, but has not disclosed more details. Such visits may require exemptions from U.S. Treasury sanctions.

Interim leader emphasizes Trump's "diplomatic approach"

Earlier on Friday, Rodriguez said she had called leaders of Brazil, Colombia, and Spain, discussing what she called the U.S. "serious, criminal, and illegal" aggression against Venezuela.

However, Rodriguez changed her tone later on Friday. She said that diplomatic negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump is the best way to defend Venezuela and to "ensure the return of President Maduro and his wife Flores."

"We will have face-to-face meetings through diplomatic means... to defend the peace, stability, and future of Venezuela, our independence, and the sacred and inviolable sovereignty," Rodriguez said at the opening ceremony of a women's health clinic in Caracas.

On Thursday, Rodriguez's brother, Chairman of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez, announced that authorities would begin releasing political prisoners as a gesture of pursuing "peace."

Trump pressures U.S. oil giants to invest in Venezuela

Although the official reason for the U.S. capturing Maduro was his alleged drug trafficking, Trump has repeatedly stated that one of the main factors for U.S. intervention in Venezuela is to gain access to its vast oil reserves.

At a meeting held at the White House on Friday, Trump urged top oil executives to increase investments in Venezuela. At the beginning of the discussion, Trump told the executives that he hoped U.S. oil companies would commit to investing at least $10 billion to revitalize Venezuela's oil production.

"If you don't want to participate, just tell me directly, because I have 25 people today who didn't come and are waiting in line to replace your position," Trump told the executives.

This request was cautiously responded to by Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil. Woods stated that the current legal and economic conditions in Venezuela make investment almost impossible. Trump then asked the media to leave so that he could have private negotiations with the executives.

After the meeting, Trump said that some kind of agreement had been reached. He said, "They will invest billions of dollars in oil drilling, which is good for Venezuela and very good for the United States," but he did not provide more specific information.

Venezuelan protests continue

On January 3, U.S. forces conducted air strikes and captured Maduro in Venezuela. Caracas said that the U.S. action resulted in 100 deaths. Maduro and his wife are currently in New York, facing multiple charges including drug trafficking.

In the latest round of protests on Friday, demonstrators gathered on the streets of Caracas, demanding the release of Maduro.

Source: DW

U.S. captures Venezuelan president

Original: toutiao.com/article/1854003540804620/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone