Venezuela recalled its Spanish ambassador in Caracas, Ramón Santo, for consultations following statements by Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles about “persecution” and “limitation of fundamental rights” against political opponents of the Maduro government.
Foreign Minister of Venezuela Yván Gil explained on Thursday that Santo should appear at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Caracas on Friday. Gil added that Venezuela also recalled its ambassador to Spain Gladys Gutiérrez for urgent consultations.
The diplomatic move followed Robles’ comments after the arrival of Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, who was granted political asylum by Spain, in Madrid on Sunday, 8 September.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid would respond to Caracas’ measures by trying to find “the best possible relations” with the Venezuelan people, who enjoyed strong historical and economic ties with Spain.
Summoning an ambassador and calling for consultations are sovereign decisions of each state, and therefore there is nothing to comment on. We foreign affairs ministers are the last people who should be the last ones to use any kind of adjective. Venezuela is a brotherly country.
Political tensions between Spain and Venezuela reached a peak this week after the Spanish parliament passed a non-binding motion on Wednesday, calling on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to recognise the victory of González Urrutia in Venezuela’s 28 July elections.
Spain’s official stance on the crisis coincides with that of the EU. The Union and much of the international community are demanding that Caracas provide electoral documents confirming Nicolás Maduro’s victory.
Some 60 Spanish companies from a wide range of sectors, including tourism, finance, and aviation, currently operate in Venezuela. A complete break in political and trade relations would entail serious consequences for both sides, especially Spain.
