Venezuelan Consulate in New York deteriorated after suspension of diplomatic relations in the US

The exterior of the building that was the headquarters of the Venezuelan consulate in New York until February 2023 currently shows signs of progressive deterioration, as confirmed by the Voice of America.

In addition to this mission, located in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, five other diplomatic representations of the South American nation in the United States remain closed since Juan Guaidó was dismissed as interim president of Venezuela by the opposition National Assembly in 2015, and by consequently it would be left without recognized diplomats.

The 2015 National Assembly is the last democratically elected institution in Venezuela, as recognized by the US government.

The bilateral mission of the Venezuelan embassy in the United States ceased its functions on January 5, 2023, the date on which the ambassador appointed by Guaidó, Carlos Vecchio, left office after the dismissal of the then recognized leader of the opposition. Venezuelan.

A spokesperson for the US State Department confirmed to the VOA, that The Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) “has assumed exclusive responsibility for ensuring the protection and preservation of property assets of the closed Venezuelan consulates.”

When the announcement was made in 2023, the US government indicated that it assumed the “temporary custody” and would have the properties and assets under its control until a Venezuelan diplomatic mission “resume operations.” That hasn’t happened yet.

The frayed and faded flag, the unpainted walls and the broken windows and main door are signs that the building has been in total abandonment since it closed its doors.

For its part, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry condemned a few days ago “the scandalous state of deterioration” of the diplomatic headquarters in the United States, explicitly those located in Washington DC and New York, through a statement in which they rejected a declaration signed by the United States. and several countries in the region in which they condemned the political situation in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry stated that “Venezuela has been and will always be respectful of international law” and compared the poor situation of its diplomatic headquarters in the United States with the American headquarters in Caracas, which they claim “remains intact.”

In addition to the Venezuelan diplomatic headquarters in New York, the headquarters in Houston, Texas remain closed; Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Miami, in Florida.

He embassy website Venezuela in the United States indicates since the date of the closure: “Unfortunately, more than half a million Venezuelans do not have an embassy or consulates of their country in North America.”

The text explains that given the closure of the headquarters, those interested in carrying out consular procedures should go to the diplomatic headquarters in Mexico and Canada.

The interruption of the Venezuelan consular service in the United States by the Venezuelan opposition – then considered by the White House as the “legitimate government” of Venezuela – followed the breakdown of relations between the government of Nicolás Maduro and the government of Washington. in 2019.

The United States government maintains that it supports an inclusive dialogue process and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela through inclusive and competitive elections, as well as a return to economic stability and security.

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