The US State Department has “noted” that the Venezuelan talks being held
in Norway are ongoing, but has refused to either support or denounce
them, insisting only that they must carry the precondition that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be removed from office.
The US backed the opposition taking power in Venezuela back in January,
and after that and a failed coup earlier this month, Norway has gotten
the government and opposition together for talks to try to resolve
months of stalemate.
Though the US-backed opposition has insisted that the talks are meant to
end with regime change, though the State Department insists there is
nothing to negotiate, and that regime change is the only acceptable
outcome.
US officials have previously warned that they believe the Norway talks
are just Maduro’s attempt to buy time and remain in power. Norway has
argued that it is intended to prevent any more fighting and resolve the
situation peacefully.
State Dept: Venezuela Talks Must Only Focus on Maduro’s Ouster
US demands Maduro's departure be made a precondition for talks
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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