Secretary of State on Thusrday issued an unusually warm message of goodwill to Venezuela ahead of the South American nation’s independence day, bolstering reports that the two countries are working toward mending an acrimonious relationship.
“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send my best wishes to the people of Venezuela as you celebrate 204 years of independence on July 5,” Kerry said.
He praised “a common spirit that paved the way for the American Revolution and independence in Latin America” and touted “ties of friendship, family, culture, sport, and commerce” that include a “mutual love for baseball.”
More significantly, Kerry hailed a “common cause in our support for Haiti’s elections, reconstruction and development, as well as in our shared commitment to the Colombian government’s ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace.”
Last year, Kerry issued a terse, three paragraph statement in which he alluded to “difficulties and disagreements in our official relationship in recent years.” This year, he described the countries as having a “strong relationship that has endured for nearly two centuries,” and offered no lecture ahead of the country’s December legislative elections.
Three months after a rapprochement between the US and Cuba was announced last year, Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro–an ally of Havana–requested “a direct channel of communication” with President Obama, according to Reuters.
“The dialogue with Venezuela did not begin in earnest until April, when Obama briefly met with Maduro in Panama at the Summit of the Americas,” the wire service reported.
It cited an official with “direct knowledge of the high-level talks” as saying the detente has been welcomed by Washington because “the [US-Venezuela] relationship was reaching such a dangerous point that it risked breaking completely.”
In March, bilateral ties between Caracas and Washington deteriorated after the White House declared Venezuela a “national security threat” and sanctioned seven Venezuelan officials.
The week before, Maduro had ordered the US to reduce its diplomatic corps in the country from 100 to 17 staffers. The Venezuelan government also tightened visa restrictions on American tourists.
Caracas and Washington have not had normal relations since 2008, when the now-deceased President Hugo Chavez expelled the US ambassador. The Bush administration responded in kind.
The White House will likely encounter resistance from Republicans if it pushes forward with any Venezuela thaw. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) just returned from the Latin American country, which he chided, upon his return to the US, for its approach to “free markets, disciplined monetary policy, respect for human rights and rule of law, fair elections, and…rampant corruption.”
“Venezuela is heading to some very difficult times that will lead to even more suffering for their people who deserve far better,” Corker stated.
Many Venezuelans have been particularly distrustful of the US since 2002, after a coup d’etat temporarily overthrew Chavez, and the Bush administration blamed the leader for his own ouster. The New York Times reported in December 2004 that CIA officials were aware of the failed plot before it was launched.
