Qatar announced that it stands ready to continue mediation efforts between the United States and Venezuela as “the channel of communications remain open with both parties”, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al-Ansari told journalists on Tuesday, referring to continuous mediation efforts conducted by Doha between the two countries.
“Qatar was a successful mediator in the past between Venezuela and the United States and these channels of communication are ready to be used if we are asked to do so by any of the governments involved," Dr Al-Ansari said.
Dr Al-Ansari recalled that Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez visited Doha last April, when she met Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman said that “there was communication with Rodriguez in the past in her capacity as vice-president of Venezuela and the channel of communication remains open between Qatar and Venezuela.”
The remarks underscore Doha’s diplomatic approach and Qatar’s now well-established role in mediating international conflicts and crises.
Qatar has further voiced deep concern over the latest developments in Venezuela, calling on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
Dr Al-Ansari reaffirmed Doha’s commitment to upholding the UN Charter and international law, particularly the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means.
“We are very much concerned by what is happening over there,” Dr Al-Ansari said, adding that the issue goes beyond Venezuela itself.
“This is not only related to Venezuela, it’s about stability in the region as a whole."
The remarks come just days after the US military seized Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a military operation in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The pair were brought back to the United States and on Monday appeared in court in New York where they were indicted on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine into the US.
Both entered not guilty pleas and the judge ordered them to remain behind bars and set a new hearing date of 17 March.
Curated by Marcus Thompson
