Nicolas Maduro - Channel 5 Belize

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.

Venezuela’s Maduro and Opposition Both Declare Presidential Victory

Venezuela faces international scrutiny as both President Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez have declared victory in Venezuela’s presidential election. This has triggered global doubts about the validity of the official election results. The election was held on Sunday.

The National Electoral Authority, which is allegedly controlled by Maduro loyalists, announced shortly after midnight that Maduro secured a third term with 51% of the vote to 44% for González.

The delay in official results—six hours after polls closed—has fueled scepticism and led the opposition to reject Maduro’s presidential win.

According to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, independent exit polls suggest a landslide victory for Gonzalez, who reportedly received 70% of the vote. The Council was criticised for not releasing the tallies from each of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide, only promising to do so in the “coming hours,” hampering the ability to verify the results.

The election period was marked by tension and sporadic violence, including a fatal incident in Tachira state and confrontations at polling sites in Caracas, reported Reuters. Police intervened to disperse a protest in Catia, a stronghold of Maduro’s supporters. The election results held heavy implications for Venezuela’s future. Amid an ongoing economic crisis and mass emigration, opposition leaders and supporters hoped that a change in leadership could restore stability. The country, grappling with severe inflation and widespread shortages, has been yearning for economic and political reform.

International reaction has been swift. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several Latin American leaders, including Chile’s Gabriel Boric and Guatemala’s Bernardo Arevalo, expressed concerns about the credibility of the results. Blinken stated, “We have serious concerns that the results announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.”

Blinken criticised the Venezuelan National Electoral Authority, questioning its independence and alleging it serves as an extension of Maduro’s government. Maduro’s previous re-election in 2018 has been widely denounced as fraudulent by the international community.

Venezuela’s Military Buildup Near Disputed Essequibo Region Heightens Tensions

Venezuela’s armed forces have relocated significant personnel and equipment near the contested, oil-rich Essequibo region controlled by Guyana. This is according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

This move could escalate tensions ahead of Venezuela’s upcoming presidential elections.

The CSIS report, published Tuesday, presents updated satellite images from mid-March to late April, showing sustained construction and expansion of a military base near Anacoco Island on the Guyana border. While Venezuela and Guyana have disputed this sparsely populated territory since the 19th century, the discovery of massive oil reserves offshore Guyana has intensified the conflict in recent years.

With presidential elections just two months away, President Nicolás Maduro might leverage the “imminent threat of invasion” to disrupt or delay the vote.

The CSIS report warns that although Venezuela has more to lose than gain from full-scale conflict, it continues to play a “dangerous game” over its claim to the Essequibo region. The report emphasizes that the rhetoric of “the Essequibo is ours,” combined with new military commands and legal frameworks, is perpetuating a state of prewar readiness.