Meeting with exiled Venezuelan politician signals US stance
US President Joe Biden speaks alongside Medal of Valor recipients in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, in U.S, on Jan. 3, 2025. (AFP Photo)
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet Monday with Venezuelan opposition politician Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia in Washington, according to a U.S. source familiar with the arrangements, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The meeting comes as Gonzalez Urrutia stakes his claim to Venezuela’s presidency following a contested election with incumbent Nicolas Maduro. “President Biden is expected to meet President-elect Gonzalez Urrutia tomorrow,” the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The stakes of the meeting have heightened after Maduro recently offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to Gonzalez Urrutia’s capture.
In a bold move Sunday, Gonzalez Urrutia addressed Venezuela’s military through a video posted on social media, declaring his intention to take command. “On January 10, by the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, I must assume the role of commander-in-chief,” he said.
The statement presents a direct challenge to the current power structure, as Venezuela’s armed forces have pledged “absolute loyalty” to Maduro, who is scheduled to be sworn in on January 10.
