State Dept: Venezuela Talks Must Only Focus on Maduro’s Ouster

US demands Maduro's departure be made a precondition for talks

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.

Author: Jason Ditz

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.