New diplomatic tensions between the US and Venezuela erupt

Not only has Venezuela reduced the number of diplomatic staff, it has also released a list of US citizens banned from entering the country.

Diplomatic tensions between the US and Venezuela are showing signs of rapidly escalating as on February 28, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the imposition of a series of new diplomatic sanctions and the arrest of several US citizens on charges of espionage.

Speaking at a peaceful march to protest against foreign interference in Venezuela's internal affairs on February 28, Venezuelan President Maduro announced the imposition of a series of diplomatic sanctions against the United States.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (anmhr: PressTV)

“I have ordered the State Department to immediately begin the process of assessing, reducing and adjusting the number of diplomatic staff at the US Embassy in Venezuela in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Maduro said.

Not only reducing the number of diplomatic staff, Venezuela also released a list of US citizens banned from entering the country, including many US politicians involved in bombing decisions against Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan.

Venezuela also warned the US diplomatic mission to notify in advance and receive permission from local authorities for any meetings conducted by US diplomatic staff in the country.

This measure is considered a retaliation by Caracas after the US had just announced an entry ban on some Venezuelan officials. Even for American tourists, Venezuela will impose a mandatory visa system and require payment of visa fees similar to the procedures currently applied by the US.

In addition to the diplomatic sanctions, President Maduro also announced the arrest of several US citizens on charges of espionage against the Venezuelan government: “We have detected espionage activities. We have also arrested several US citizens who were conducting espionage activities to lure people in several cities along the Venezuelan coast and in the surrounding areas. In Tachira, we arrested a Latin American pilot with all the evidence.”

The US has yet to respond to President Maduro’s latest statements. Previously, Venezuela has repeatedly denounced the plot of the opposition forces in this South American country with the support of the US as well as Colombian paramilitary groups to sabotage the government and stability of Venezuela.

Earlier this week, Mr. Maduro bluntly declared that the government was still fighting a coup, in which the opposition, with the support of the U.S. government, plotted to bomb government offices across the capital, Caracas.

Venezuelan media said that among the attack targets in the opposition's plan were the Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Defense headquarters and the national television station.

Venezuela has been dealing with a dangerous escalation of social unrest in recent times. Most recently, in the middle of last week, four people were injured during a violent protest by a group of young people in the city of Merida, southwest of Venezuela.

Earlier, on the morning of February 24, a violent protest took place in Tachira state, killing a 14-year-old boy. Given the related developments, international observers are concerned that Venezuela may face the risk of a resurgence of violent protests like those that occurred early last year in many areas, killing at least 43 people./.

According to VOV.VN