Jan Melissen in NRC on the diplomatic situation in Venezuela
The political situation in Venezuela is increasingly complicated. On Monday morning, February the fourth, several EU countries, including The Netherlands, recognised Guiadó as legitimate acting president. Dr. Jan Melissen, attached to the Clingendael Institute and the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) at Leiden University, elaborates on the situation in the NRC.
Diplomacy
Committing to diplomacy between two different structures of power is very complicated and possibly even dangerous. Take for example the failed evacuation out of Sirte (Libya), where Dutch marines fell in the hands of Gaddafi’s soldiers. Despite the nomination of Guiadó, the diplomatic connections of current Venezuelan president Maduro still exist. Maduro’s diplomats are still occupying the embassy’s. Therefore, not backing a president is not the same as breaking diplomatic connections.
Read the full article at the website of the NRC (Dutch).