Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced his decision to resume negotiations with the United States ahead of the country’s presidential elections. Despite the re-imposition of sanctions by Washington, Maduro has accepted a proposal to restart direct talks to comply with previously signed agreements.
In a televised broadcast, Maduro confirmed the restart of discussions with the U.S. government next Wednesday, which were initiated following a successful prisoner exchange deal in late 2023 mediated by Qatar. The Venezuelan official negotiator, Jorge Rodriguez, will lead the delegation for the talks, although specific topics for discussion have not been disclosed.
The talks, which began two years ago, were interrupted when the U.S. imposed oil sanctions last April, leading Maduro’s government to accuse the United States of violating the Qatar accord. The decision to resume negotiations signifies a potential shift towards resolving longstanding issues between the two countries.