The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterates its denunciation at the international level that it has been the victim of a criminal, illegitimate, and illegal aggression against its territory and its people—an action that has left more than one hundred civilian and military deaths, who, in defense of the Homeland, were killed in flagrant violation of international law. As is well known, within the framework of this aggression, the illegal kidnapping of the Constitutional President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and the First Lady, Cilia Flores, took place—an act that constitutes a serious violation of the personal immunity of heads of state and of the fundamental principles of the international legal order.

For the purpose of addressing this situation within the framework of international law, and in strict adherence to the principles of national sovereignty and the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace, the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the Government of the United States of America, aimed at restoring diplomatic missions in both countries, with the objective of addressing the consequences arising from the aggression and the kidnapping of the President of the Republic and the First Lady, as well as addressing a work agenda of mutual interest.

In this context, a delegation of diplomatic officials from the United States Department of State will arrive in the country to carry out technical and logistical evaluations inherent to diplomatic functions. Likewise, a delegation of Venezuelan diplomats will be sent to the United States to carry out the corresponding tasks.

As reiterated by the Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela will confront this aggression through diplomatic means, convinced that the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace is the legitimate path for the defense of sovereignty, the restoration of international law, and the preservation of peace.

After the expiration of all the deadlines granted by the army to the SDF organization within the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood, we announce the start of an operation to clear the neighborhood of the presence of this criminal organization.

Once the sweeping operations are completed, the neighborhood will be handed over to the security forces and state institutions to begin their work directly.