South American states sever ties

Venezuela has cut ties with Paraguay after that country’s president backed the opposition in Caracas

Venezuela has broken off diplomatic relations with Paraguay after its president, Santiago Pena, publicly backed the opposition in Caracas and recognized exiled opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez as the true winner of last year’s presidential elections.

According to Venezuelan electoral authorities, President Nicolas Maduro defeated Gonzalez in the presidential ballot last July. However, the opposition – along with most Western countries – claimed the vote was rigged and has put pressure on Maduro to step down.

On Sunday, the president of Paraguay met with Venezuelan opposition leaders and declared Gonzalez the rightful winner of the election, promising to work with the international community to “contribute to the prompt restoration of democracy in Venezuela.”

In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Minister of Venezuela Yvan Gil Pinto said Caracas had decided “in full exercise of its sovereignty, to break diplomatic relations with the Republic of Paraguay and proceed with the immediate withdrawal of its accredited diplomatic personnel in that country.”

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“It is deplorable that governments like the Paraguayan [one] keep subordinating their foreign policies to the interests of foreign power,” the statement continued, accusing Pena of “promoting agendas destined to undermine democratic principles and the will of free people.”

Maduro is due to be inaugurated on Friday for his third six-year term as president.

In late July last year, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner of the presidential election, with nearly 52% of the vote. Gonzalez refuses to recognize the result, with his supporters citing tally sheets that allegedly show he won with 67% of the vote.

The US and the EU, along with a number of other countries, have supported Gonzalez’ claim. However, others, including Russia and China, have recognized the official outcome and acknowledge Maduro as president.

Gonzalez was granted safe passage to leave Venezuela last year, despite having an outstanding arrest warrant, and fled to Spain. He has since vowed to return to Venezuela by January 10 to be sworn in as president.

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Maduro first took office in 2013 following the death of President Hugo Chavez. His previous reelection, in 2018, was also rejected by the US, along with the EU and several Latin American states.

Following the 2018 election, the US and EU recognized lawmaker Juan Guaido as “interim president,” with Washington going so far as to confiscate Venezuelan gold and other assets to assist Guaido. The Venezuelan opposition voted to dissolve his “interim government” in December 2022, after which Guaido faded into obscurity.

In January 2019, shortly after Guaido declared himself Venezuela’s interim president, Paraguay became one of the first countries to recognize him as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, with Asuncion then supporting sanctions and severing formal diplomatic relations with Caracas. In 2023, the two jointly announced the restoration of diplomatic and consular relations.