Venezuela has decided to initiate an "exploratory" diplomatic process with the U.S. government, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Friday in an official statement.
The move came after the United States launched military strikes on the southern American country a week ago.
In the statement posted on his social media account, Gil said that the U.S. Department of State has dispatched a delegation of diplomats to Venezuela to carry out assessments related to diplomatic functions, and at the same time, Venezuela will send a delegation of diplomats to the United States.
The statement also said that the Venezuelan territory and its people have suffered criminal, illegal, and illegitimate aggression, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 civilians and military personnel who defended the homeland.
These actions constitute a blatant violation of international law, the statement said.
During the acts of aggression, President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were illegally seized. This behavior seriously violated head of state immunity under international law and also breached the fundamental principles of the international legal order, it said.
In order to address this situation within the framework of international law, and in strict adherence to the principles of national sovereignty and Bolivarian Peace Diplomacy, the Venezuelan government has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the U.S. government, according to the statement.
This process aims to promote the restoration of the respective diplomatic missions, address the consequences of the aggression and the seizure of the Venezuelan president and his spouse, and jointly advance an agenda of mutually beneficial cooperation, it added.
On January 3, the United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela, carrying out a surprise attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, forcibly taking control of President Maduro and his wife and transporting them to the United States.
On January 5, the Maduro couple appeared for the first time in a federal court in New York, where they rejected the so-called "criminal" charges brought by the U.S. side.
Venezuela initiates "exploratory" diplomatic process with US after capture of Maduro
Venezuela initiates "exploratory" diplomatic process with US after capture of Maduro
