The Venezuelan president reaches out to Joe Biden.

Nicolas Maduro on Saturday January 23 called on his new American counterpart to "turn the page", declaring himself ready to open "a new path" in the diplomatic relations which had broken off two years ago between Caracas and Washington.

"We are ready to follow a new path in our relations with the government of Joe Biden, on the basis of mutual respect, dialogue, communication and understanding," Nicolas Maduro said in a speech to his supporters.

"Venezuela, this Venezuela of the XXIst century, Bolivarian and revolutionary, is ready to turn the page" of the diplomatic quarrels with the administration of Donald Trump which imposed multiple economic sanctions on Venezuela, including an embargo on oil since 2019, the country's first resource, in order to overthrow the socialist regime of Nicolas Maduro described as "dictator".

The United States had also recognized, like more than 50 countries in the world, the opponent Juan Guaido.

The latter proclaimed himself interim president of Venezuela on January 23, 2019 and accused Nicolas Maduro of having "fraudulently" won the 2018 presidential election, boycotted by the opposition.

"Two years ago, I had to react with force and dignity and, from here, I proceeded as head of state to sever all political and diplomatic relations with the American government of the time, "continued Nicolas Maduro from the balcony of the presidential palace in Miraflores.

"Trump is gone!" He congratulated himself.

As soon as Joe Biden won the US presidential election in November, Nicolas Maduro congratulated him and said he was "ready for dialogue and good understanding with the people and the government of the United States".

Calls repeated in December.

"Brutal dictator"

Antony Blinken, appointed by Joe Biden to be his secretary of state, however, said the White House would continue to recognize Juan Guaido.

The future head of American diplomacy has also qualified Nicolas Maduro as a "brutal dictator".

This renewed support for the leader of the Venezuelan opposition came despite the new Chavist majority in Parliament, resulting from the December 6 elections boycotted by the opposition, who said they were fraudulent.

They have not been recognized by the United States, the European Union or several Latin American countries.

While sanctions relief may not appear to be on the agenda, analysts believe the Biden administration will likely be more moderate than the previous one and will advocate for international mediation for a gradual transition of power in Venezuela.

Juan Guaido, for his part, defends the continuity of the former opposition parliament and, with it, of his position as head of the congress, of which he has claimed the interim presidency.

The president of the new National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, repeated the corruption accusations against Juan Guaido on Saturday, on the basis of complaints published by the American daily Washington Post about alleged irregularities related to funds and assets of the Venezuela of a total of 40 billion dollars stranded abroad.

According to the UN, more than five million Venezuelans have left their country since 2015 to flee the serious political and economic crisis that the country is going through with uncontrolled inflation of + 4,000% over one year.

With AFP

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