John Kerry's handshake with Venezuelan leader raises questions
NBCDec 25, 2022
The Facts
Spain announced on Wednesday the appointment of a new ambassador to Venezuela, signaling a thaw in relations two years after it vacated the post in protest of what it claimed was an absence of free elections.
Ramón Santos Martínez, a former ambassador to Bolivia and Panama who headed the Spanish legation to Caracas since Nov. 2021 as charge d'affaires, was chosen to fill the position previously held by Jesús Silva.
The Spin
Narrative A
While Madrid maintains its stance that Maduro's election in 2018 was illegitimate, the emergence of new circumstances has made it reasonable for Spain to raise its representation in Venezuela to the level of ambassador. This move will allow Madrid to support Caracas in holding a fully democratic presidential election in 2024.
Narrative B
This appointment comes as no surprise given that several other Latin American governments had already returned to Caracas amid negotiations in Mexico – in fact, it had been expected for weeks. Besides, Santos Martínez has never caused any problems in the country, unlike his predecessor Silva, who was removed after being accused of helping fugitive Leopoldo López seek exile in Spain.
Establishment-critical narrative
The West has a moral responsibility to maintain pressure on Maduro and his illegitimate, authoritarian regime. Relieving pressure now will only serve to normalize a criminal organization holding the nation hostage as it carries out countless crimes against humanity.
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