The Venezuelan government wants to suspend Brazil’s custody of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “there can be no unilateral revocation of custody.”
According to a note from Itamaraty, “until another country is designated to represent Argentine interests, the situation remains as it is.” The Brazilian government was notified by the Venezuelan government, “but informed that it will continue to represent Argentina’s interests in Venezuela until a replacement is designated.”
Just over a month ago, the Brazil temporarily took overat the request of the Argentine government, the Argentine diplomatic representation in the Venezuelan capital, after President Nicolás Maduro decreed the closure of the Argentine diplomatic representation and ordered the expulsion of Argentine diplomats from the country. On that occasion, the Brazilian flag was hoisted in place of the Argentine flag.
Venezuela also expelled diplomatic missions from Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
Buenos Aires newspapers report that six opponents of President Nicolás Maduro’s regime are still taking refuge in the embassy, which is under siege by agents from the Directorate of Strategic and Tactical Actions, the Bolivarian National Police, and the Bolivarian Intelligence Service. According to the Buenos Aires press, the embassy’s electricity has been cut off and generators are providing electricity.
