Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the European Union ambassador to depart the country within 72 hours, vowing to resolve diplomatic tensions while maintaining strict airspace controls amid the coronavirus crisis.
"Who are they to impose themselves with threats?" Maduro questioned, asserting that the EU had "kneeling" to U.S. President Donald Trump's policies against his government. He claimed Venezuela would arrange for the diplomat's departure but emphasized resolving disputes with the EU through diplomatic channels.
The nation has maintained a commercial flight ban since the pandemic began, complicating international travel. This measure coincides with heightened tensions following EU sanctions targeting Maduro allies, including opposition legislator Luis Parra, who recently challenged the leadership of the opposition-controlled National Assembly.
Parra's rivalry with opposition leader Juan Guaido intensified after a 2018 election widely deemed fraudulent, which Guaido contested by declaring himself interim president in 2019. While over 50 countries recognize Guaido, Parra's faction remains aligned with Maduro, creating a fractured opposition landscape.
Relations between Venezuela and the EU deteriorated in 2017 when the bloc imposed sanctions, including an arms embargo, over human rights concerns. The latest measures target officials linked to the government's controversial food distribution programs, further straining diplomatic ties.
