The Netherlands on Wednesday ordered Venezuela to chop its diplomatic employees within the nation from 4 to 2 after Caracas introduced restrictions on envoys from a number of European international locations.
Caracas’s cost d’affaires “was instructed to cut back the Venezuelan diplomatic employees from 4 to 2 individuals, which is a proportionate response to the diplomatic measure imposed on the Netherlands,” Dutch Overseas Minister Caspar Veldkamp mentioned in a letter to parliament.
Veldkamp’s transfer got here a day after Venezuela mentioned it will impose restrictions on the Netherlands, France and Italy, citing the international locations’ “hostile” responses to Nicolas Maduro’s presidential inauguration, broadly rejected as an influence seize.
In a transfer branded an “escalation” by the Dutch authorities, Venezuela’s overseas ministry introduced it will restrict the variety of accredited diplomats to 3 for every of the international locations.
These remaining would additionally want “written authorisation… to journey greater than 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Plaza Bolivar” within the capital Caracas.
“An objection was lodged towards the imposed journey restriction and it was acknowledged that, if this measure is definitely maintained, I’ll contemplate additional measures right here within the Netherlands,” Veldkamp mentioned.
“Lastly, the Netherlands strongly distances itself from the notion that it has interfered in home affairs and has offered assist to extremist teams,” the minister added.
Maduro, 62, is embroiled in a standoff with the West and a number of other Latin American international locations over his disputed declare to have received one other six year-term in July 28 elections he’s broadly accused of stealing.
America, European Union, G7 and a number of other democratic neighbours have refused to recognise his reelection. France, Italy and the Netherlands final week loudly condemned Maduro’s administration.
