US, Venezuela restore ties amid push for minerals access

VENEZUELA and the US are restoring diplomatic ties, the two countries announced on Thursday, in a new sign of thawing relations after Washington ousted former president Nicolas Maduro.

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The announcement came as US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrapped up a two-day trip to Venezuela, part of US President Donald Trump’s push for greater access to the country’s mineral wealth. The re-establishment of diplomatic and consular relations “will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela,” the US State Department said.

“Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.” Venezuela’s foreign ministry said it would “move forward in a new stage of constructive dialogue, based on mutual respect, the sovereign equality of states and cooperation between our people.”