Diplomatic Tension Increases: Venezuela revokes Brazilian custody of the Argentine embassy in Caracas and surrounds the building
Brazil assumed the responsibility of representing Argentina's consular interests in Caracas after the expulsion of the Argentine ambassador by President Nicolás Maduro, which took place on August 1st.
Facade of the residence of the Argentine ambassador in Caracas, on March 24, 2024 - Photo Reproduction / Federico Parra / AFP
Venezuela revoked this Saturday (7) the authorization that allowed the Brazilian government to represent Argentina's interests in the country. According to the statement released by the Venezuelan government, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela decided to immediately withdraw the approval granted to the government of the Federative Republic of Brazil to exercise representation of the interests of the Argentine Republic and its citizens in Venezuelan territory.
According to the statement, Venezuela was forced to take this measure due to evidence of the use of the facilities for "terrorist activities" and assassination attempts against President Nicolás Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. The note also highlights that the Venezuelan government is acting in accordance with the country's principles of justice and in compliance with the Vienna Conventions.
Brazilian Representation
Brazil has had the responsibility to represent Argentina's consular interests in Caracas since the Argentine ambassador was expelled by President Nicolás Maduro on August 1. Brazilian diplomatic sources stated that the country will continue to perform this role until Venezuela designates another nation to assume the role. They emphasized, however, that Venezuela cannot, unilaterally, dissolve the representation of Argentine interests. "We will continue to represent Argentina's interests, including the protection of those in residence, until a replacement country for Brazil is defined", declared a representative of Brazilian diplomacy.
Itamaraty sources also reported that the building of the former Argentine embassy in the capital of Venezuela, currently occupied by Brazilian diplomats, remains surrounded by Venezuelan regime forces. Diplomats also reported that the building's electricity was cut off by local authorities, but that the area where the embassy team resides is being powered by generators.
Context of Diplomatic Tension
The expulsion came after Argentina declared that Maduro's re-election was not legitimate and that the presidential election in Venezuela, held at the end of July, was rigged. Brazil, in turn, neither recognizes nor rejects the result of the election. The country has adopted a stance of demanding the presentation of electoral records, which function as ballot papers, something that has not yet been done by the Venezuelan authorities. In diplomacy, when a country expels an ambassador, it can request that another nation represent the interests of its citizens there, which was done by Argentina.
According to the National Campaign Command of the Venezuelan opposition, six of its members are asylees at the embassy. The Maduro regime seeks to arrest these people. Magalli Meda, campaign manager for María Corina Machado, who has been taking refuge in the embassy since March 20 along with five colleagues, published on the social network with access to the site blocked." The opposition reported, on Friday night, that hooded men were seen around the building and that a police vehicle remains parked in front of the building.
Repercussions
Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), criticized the Venezuelan government. He stated in X that the Venezuelan government's threats and actions are totally incompatible with the law and unacceptable to the international community. In response to the worsening situation in Venezuela, the Argentine government issued a note urging the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to ask the Chamber of Preliminary Questions to issue detention orders against Nicolás Maduro and other leaders of the regime.
