Credit: US Department of State / Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The United States has accepted self-proclaimed Venezuelan president Juan Guaido’s designation of Carlos Alfredo Vecchio as the Caracas charge d’affaires to the US, according to the office of the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.  After his accreditation last Friday,   Vecchio met with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, who reaffirmed the United States’ strong support for “interim President”  Guaido’s leadership of Venezuela, the State Department reported.  According to the State Department,

“Vecchio will have authority over diplomatic affairs in the United States on behalf of Venezuela.”    US Department of  State. 

During the past week, chaotic political drama in Venezuela has unfolded fast and furious.  Guaidó declared himself the country’s interim president amid nationwide protests Wednesday, in a bid to seize power from Maduro.

Maduro accused the opposition and the U.S. of an attempted coup.  On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence posted a video message online telling Venezuelan opposition leaders and protesters that the U.S. supports their efforts to oust Maduro.   Pompeo also named Iran-Contra neo-conservative Elliott Abrams as the Trump administration’s new special envoy to crisis-stricken Venezuela.    Abrams’ appointment as new point person in Venezuela no doubt shocked a lot of foreign policy veterans who  are familiar with his hawkish, interventionist  style of diplomacy.  Critics say Abrams had his fingers in the infamous U.S. Invasion of Panama in 1989 and America’s questionable policies in Latin America that included backing “death squads” in the region.

Pompeo Urges UN Security Council To Stand For Freedom Or Back Maduro Regime In Venezuela

The secretary of state urged UN Security Council Saturday to stand in support with Guaido. The Security Council held an emergency meeting called by the United States to address the political crisis  in Venezuela.