US attack on Venezuela

New Government
Venezuela: Wants to Resume Diplomacy with US

The US and Venezuela have taken a first step towards resuming diplomatic relations between the countries after the US attack on the country, where President Nicolás Maduro was captured. This is reported by several media outlets.

On Friday, a group of US diplomats and officials went to Venezuela to explore the possibilities of reopening the embassy.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who is ruling the country in Maduro's absence, and the government stated in a statement that they had decided to "begin an exploratory diplomatic process" with the US.

The Venezuelan government has sharply criticized the US attack and demanded that Maduro be released. 

Reactions
Colombian president warns of US intervention: “Real threat”

There is a “real threat” of a US military intervention in Colombia, the country’s President Gustavo Petro tells the BBC.

The statement comes after Donald Trump said earlier this week that a military operation in Colombia “sounds good”.

Petro, who has strongly criticized the US intervention in Venezuela, says that the US treats other nations as part of its empire. Through his actions, Trump risks isolating the US from the rest of the world, according to the Colombian president.

Trump and Petro spoke on the phone on Wednesday and afterwards Trump described the conversation in positive terms. However, the BBC notes that Petro’s statement rather indicates that nothing has changed in the presidents’ cool relationship with each other.

Reports: Vatican and Russia wanted to offer Maduro “a way out”

Before the US attacked Venezuela and captured Nicolás Maduro, several countries wanted to find a refuge for the Venezuelan president in the hope of avoiding US military intervention and a diplomatic crisis, reports the Washington Post, which spoke to almost 20 sources.

The Vatican also reportedly asked the US in meetings with US representatives to offer Maduro “a way out”, the newspaper writes.

On Christmas Eve, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s right-hand man, is said to have had a meeting with Brian Burch, the US ambassador to the Vatican, where he told them that Russia was ready to offer Maduro asylum, according to the reports.

– What was suggested was that he should disappear and have the opportunity to enjoy his assets, says a source with insight into the Russian offer.

Qatar and Turkey are also said to have tried to avert a crisis and find a way for Maduro to leave Venezuela.