US Wants to Engage Venezuela Despite Caracas' Diplomatic Recall - Official

The United States is still willing to work with the Venezuelan government even in the face of Caracas withdrawing its most senior diplomat in response to US imposing new sanctions on Venezuelan officials, a US Department of State official told Sputnik on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced he was recalling the Chargé d'affaires of the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, DC, Maximilien Sanchez Arvelaiz, because of the US decision to extend sanctions against Venezuelan officials.

"We [the United States] continue to have diplomatic relations with Venezuela and remain willing to engage with all sectors of Venezuela, including the executive branch," the official said.

The State Department, the official noted, is aware that Maduro announced his plans to recall Arvelaiz during an address to the Venezuelan people, but Washington has yet to receive official notification from Caracas.

Last week, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said his country would conduct a comprehensive review of its relations with the United States in the wake of the US decision to extend sanctions.

Relations between Washington and Caracas have worsened recently over alleged human rights violations during protests in Venezuela’s capital against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in February of 2014.