Venezuela has severed diplomatic relations with seven Latin American nations that questioned the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro’s election victory. The Maduro government has expelled the diplomatic missions of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, while also withdrawing its own diplomatic staff from these countries.
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil ordered the immediate departure of the diplomatic personnel, citing “interventionist acts” by these nations. In a statement reported by the Miami Herald, the Maduro administration asserted, “Venezuela reserves all legal and political rights to enforce, preserve, and defend our inalienable right to self-determination. We will confront all actions that threaten the climate of peace and coexistence.”
The severing of ties follows these countries’ expressions of concern over the results of the recent presidential election, in which Maduro was declared the winner with 51.2 percent of the votes according to the regime-controlled electoral council.
Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia and his coalition have disputed the official results, claiming they have obtained 73.2 percent of the voting tallies. Urrutia’s ally and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado argued that a review of voting records shows a “mathematically irreversible” lead for Urrutia, with 6.27 million votes compared to Maduro’s 2.75 million, as reported by the Associated Press.
The contested election results have led to widespread protests across Venezuela. Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets, chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!” Security forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. The opposition has vowed to continue challenging the election results, which they claim were marred by fraud and political intimidation.
The diplomatic fallout has revealed a significant divide in Latin America, with some nations supporting Maduro’s government and others rejecting the election outcome. Peru recalled its ambassador to Caracas, citing the “very serious” results announced in Venezuela. Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves rejected the “fraudulent” outcome, while Chilean President Gabriel Boric called Maduro’s victory “hard to believe.” Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo has called for an “independent audit” of the election results. Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei voiced his disapproval on social media, writing: “DICTATOR MADURO, OUT!!!”
In contrast, Maduro has received congratulations from allies such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Honduras. Internationally, the United States, Britain, and the European Union have expressed concerns over the election’s legitimacy, calling for transparency and a fair count of votes. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the announced result “does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”
Conversely, Russia and China have extended their congratulations to Maduro on his victory, highlighting the polarized international response to the contested election in Venezuela. As the situation develops, the Maduro administration remains firm in its stance against what it views as external interference, while the opposition continues to rally for a reevaluation of the election process.
