Venezuela orders cutbacks in US embassy staff

(Vatican Radio) Washington has been given fifteen days to reduce its Embassy staff tally from 100 to just seventeen in Caracas, as diplomatic relations between the two nations fall to an historic low.

Listen to James Blears’ report:

The drastic pruning of United States diplomatic staff was announced by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez after a meeting with the US Charge d'affairs Lee McClenny.  This action has been taken following the banning of unnamed Venezuelan officials from the United States for what the US Government termed contraventions in human rights during the unrest in Venezuela a year ago.

Also and from now on, US diplomats in Venezuela will need to be granted permission from the Government to meet any opposition politicians.

The two countries have not exchanged Ambassadors in five years and the anti-US rhetoric by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is increasing. He accused the US of helping to ferment a coup against him.

The US State Department denies the accusations calling them ridiculous and absurd.
In spite of deepening differences, Venezuela continues to export Oil to the United States.