Category World News

Venezuela’s government has said it is in “exploratory” talks to restore diplomatic ties with the United States in the wake of Washington’s abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.

The government led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez also said on Friday that US Department of State officials were visiting Caracas and that Venezuela would soon reciprocate by sending a delegation to Washington.

The government “has decided to initiate an exploratory process of a diplomatic nature with the Government of the United States of America, aimed at the re-establishment of diplomatic missions in both countries”, it said in a statement.

US-Venezuela relations tanked in the wake of the rise of left-wing President Hugo Chavez in 1999. Over the following 10 years, both countries withdrew their respective ambassadors.

In 2019, diplomatic relations fully ceased after the administration of US President Donald Trump recognised opposition figure Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.

Since then, the US has handled Venezuela affairs from an office in Colombia’s capital, Bogota.

Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president just two days after the US military seized Maduro. The operation has been roundly condemned as a blatant violation of international law.

The former vice president had continued to decry the US actions as a flagrant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, even as she has softened her tone on cooperation in the US.

“Our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” she said.

The Trump administration has pledged to use military pressure and sanctions to indefinitely assert its will on Venezuela’s government and the country’s management of its vast oil reserves.

Trump had initially threatened that Rodriguez would pay a “bigger price” than Maduro if she did not comply with US interests. Maduro remained in a US federal facility on Friday after being indicted earlier this week on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy and drug trafficking charges.

In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he had cancelled “the previously expected second Wave of Attacks” on Venezuela, citing increased cooperation with Caracas.

That included Venezuela’s move on Thursday to release a small fraction of its political prisoners, in what Trump called a sign of “seeking peace”.

“The USA and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump said, adding that US military assets would remain surged to the region.

Trump and his top officials have offered competing justifications for Maduro’s abduction and the ongoing pressure campaign against Caracas. The administration has called the attack a one-off “law enforcement operation” while also saying the use of military force to achieve its goals remain on the table.

Earlier Friday, US forces seized a fifth oil tanker in the Caribbean since Trump announced a blockade on vessels under sanction by Washington in December.

UN experts have said the blockade and Washington’s efforts to assert control over Venezuela’s oil industry are also violations of international law.

Recalled striker Iliman Ndiaye scored in the first half to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over 10-man Mali in Tangiers on Friday in the first 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal.

Mali hopes were dealt a severe blow in first-half added time when Yves Bissouma was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

The only goal followed a blunder by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who then made a string of superb saves to prevent Senegal increasing their lead.

Senegal now face defending champions Ivory Coast or record seven-time winners Egypt, who meet on Saturday, in the semifinals.

Malian Lassine Sinayoko appealed for a penalty just three minutes into the first half, alleging he was fouled by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was back after a one-match suspension.

However, the South African referee waved play on, and VAR confirmed his decision was correct. Big-screen replays showed Sinayoko was guilty of simulation.

Mali captain Bissouma was yellow-carded midway through the half for fouling veteran Senegal striker and twice African player of the year Sadio Mane.

Sinayoko then broke clear only to be foiled by a superb sliding tackle from fellow French Ligue 1 player Krepin Diatta.

The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes on a cold, cloudy evening in the Mediterranean city thanks to Ndiaye.

He was involved three times in a move which ended with goalkeeper Djigui Diarra allowing a Krepin Diarra cross to slip under his body, and Ndiaye struck the loose ball into the net.

While the goal was a gift, it gave Senegal a deserved lead as they had dominated possession in only the second AFCON clash between the countries. The first was drawn at the group stage in 2004.

Pape Gueye, who scored twice for Senegal in the last-16 victory over Sudan, was just off target with a shot from outside the box.

Then, for the second successive knockout match, Mali were reduced to 10 men before half-time with Bissouma shown a second yellow card, followed by a red.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder fouled Idrissa Gueye in midfield, and Malian pleas for the incident to be reviewed by VAR were rejected.

Mali displayed tremendous spirit when reduced to 10 men against Tunisia in the round of 16, and it was evident again against the Senegalese as the second half progressed.

They came close to levelling on 55 minutes when defender Abdoulaye Diaby advanced for a free-kick. His close-range shot brought a reflex save from former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Diarra atoned for his first-half blunder by making several superb saves to keep alive Malian dreams of winning a maiden AFCON title.

With 15 minutes of regular time remaining, scorer Ndiaye was substituted. In his place came 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye, whose goal sealed victory over Sudan.

Diarra rescued Mali again as time ticked away, blocking a shot from substitute Pathe Ciss, who had broken clear.