Mexico City (Washington Insider Magazine) – has hosted talks between the Venezuelan government and its opposition that were brokered by Norway in the hopes of helping the country return to a semblance of normalcy.
There was only a small amount of common ground found but the progress offers a ray of hope to the South American country which has descended into political, social and economic turmoil over the last few years. Venezuelans will take the step forward as a good sign for the second round of talks to be held in Mexico City again later this month.
The Venezuelan opposition has changed its strategy in recent months. Their backing at the negotiation table by The Netherlands rather than the US was a key part of this. Washington’s sanctions on Venezuela have been a key factor in the country’s economic suffocation that has played a large part in the exodus of 5.7 million people, mainly to neighboring Columba.
President Maduro’s socialist government meanwhile was backed by Russia at the negotiating table. The economic isolation of Caracas in the Americas has increasingly pushed Maduro’s government to the East and eroded the country’s autonomy from Moscow and Beijing more than Washington or Maduro would like to admit.
One unifying point during the talks was the rejection of neighboring Guyana’s territorial claim to the mineral-rich Essequibo region. Another was the need to look at the devastating consequences that arise from “over-compliance” to the sanctions imposed, which may have been hard to work through had Gaudio’s core backer, the US been at the table.
The opposition recently declared their intention to participate in the upcoming elections, although pessimistically and reluctantly. However, the change in tact appears to be providing more fruit than the last few years, which peaked with Juan Gaudio naming himself president to almost no effect having never been voted for. The US and EU recognized the self-appointment until Europe backed away at the beginning of this year.
Sceptics of Maduro’s government, which won two-thirds of the 48% turnout in 2018’s election, say he’s just using the talks to try and lift sanctions. If he were to be successful, millions of Venezuelans may be lifted back out of poverty. The populace hopes that this round of negotiations, the fourth in five years, brings some progress to the unstable country.
