Day: July 30, 2024

Maduro Orders Withdrawal of Diplomats from Seven Latin American Countries 

After an intense and controversial election over the weekend, Venezuela ordered the withdrawal of its diplomatic personnel from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay. The move came after these countries refused to recognise President Nicolás Maduro’s victory in the July 28 elections, prompting a retaliatory demand for the expulsion of their representatives from Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry condemned the refusal to acknowledge the election results as an attack on its sovereignty. In an official statement, it said, “The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided to recall all members of its diplomatic missions in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay due to a heinous precedent, which is an attack on our sovereignty, and also demands that these countries’ governments recall their diplomats from Venezuela.”

Chancellor Yvan Gil Pinto, who is a Venezuelan diplomat and politician serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, further emphasised the government’s position, highlighting international support for the election’s legitimacy while strongly denouncing what he called ‘violence and interventionism’ from the Venezuelan opposition and international actors.

Maduro’s third term triggered the reaction of international leaders across the Americas. Panama President Jose Raul Mulino announced, “We are putting diplomatic relations on hold until a complete review of the voting records.”

“Maduro’s regime must understand that the results are hard to believe…Chile we will not recognise any result that is not verifiable,” declared Chilean President Gabriel Boric. A stance echoed by the government of Argentina, “We do not recognise fraud, we call on the international community to unite to restore the rule of law in Venezuela,” stated President Javier Milei.

Venezuela has vowed to take all necessary legal and political measures to defend its right to self-determination and counteract what it views as attempts to destabilise its governance.

Caribbean Leaders Urge UK for ‘Marshall Plan’ Post-Hurricane Beryl

Following the devastation of Hurricane Beryl, Caribbean leaders have appealed to the UK for a “Marshall plan” to aid reconstruction efforts. The hurricane, which struck on July 1, claimed 11 lives and caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands homeless in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Prime ministers from Antigua and Barbuda, SVG, and Grenada have written to UK officials, highlighting the financial strain from recurrent hurricanes and proposing a comprehensive recovery plan. This plan, inspired by the post-WWII Marshall Plan, would include debt cancellation, cheaper loans, debt restructuring, and grants for climate-related damages.

The letter, addressed to the British government, calls for immediate debt cancellation through a prearranged mechanism that activates automatically in the event of a qualifying disaster. The Caribbean leaders warned that their countries cannot sustain the rising debt from continuous rebuilding efforts.

Scott Furssedonn-Wood, the British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, commented, “I haven’t seen the letter yet, but I understand the call for a Marshall Plan. The UK government, in office for just a month, is still considering these issues. I hope to discuss this with the foreign secretary soon.”

Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, expressed support for the initiative, stating, “The Caribbean clearly needs assistance. The impact of Hurricane Beryl, along with previous storms, shows the urgency for climate financing. The process must be streamlined to provide timely economic and financial support, similar to what was offered to Europe after WWII.”

The letter was sent as Caribbean countries sought help in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which caused significant damage and loss of life. During the CARICOM summit, leaders discussed climate change impacts, the need for the Loss and Damage Fund, changes to the Regional Insurance Scheme, and access to financing for rebuilding.

 

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