US names first ambassador in decade to Venezuela amid tensions

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Economic Times

PTI Last Updated: Nov 19, 2020, 11:52 AM IST

Washington has its first ambassador to Venezuela in a decade despite the US having no diplomats at its Caracas embassy amid a breakdown in relations. James Story's nomination as ambassador to Venezuela was confirmed on Wednesday by a US Senate voice vote. The South Carolina native takes the job that he will carry out from the capital of neighbouring Colombia as Venezuela endures a historic economic and political crisis.

Story, 50, will likely be at the centre of helping guide US policy on Venezuela during the transition of President-elect Joe Biden. Relations have had a long, rocky past that include President Donald Trump's administration winning an indictment against Venezuelan Nicolas Maduro as an alleged narcoterrorist.

Biden's win has sparked debate among those who back Trump's hard-line approach against Maduro and others who say it is time for a new approach. The critics say heavy sanctions have ..

The US and Venezuela haven't exchanged ambassadors since 2010, when relations first started to fray under the late President Hugo Chavez. The two nations totally broke diplomatic ties last year, each withdrawing its diplomats shortly after Washington backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate leader.


Read more: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/us-names-first-ambassador-in-decade-to-venezuela-amid-tensions/articleshow/79297826.cms

[George II]

1. Won't he be replaced in January or February by Biden's pick?

[IsItJustMe]

2. Presidents get to choose their own Ambassadors from my understaning

I think Biden will be tied up with much more pressing matters for a while though.