Caracas rejects US ties after diplomats expulsion

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says Caracas will not have close relations with the United States as long as American diplomats continue attempts to destabilize his country.

“While the government of the United States does not understand that it has to respect our country’s sovereignty there will be simply be no cordial relations nor cordial communication,” Maduru said on Tuesday.

Maduru’s comments came a day after he ordered the expulsion of three US embassy diplomats, accusing them of plotting to sabotage the economy.

During a live TV appearance on Monday, Maduru said chargé d’affaires Kelly Keiderling and two other diplomats would have 48 hours to leave the country.

He said the diplomats had met with the “Venezuelan far-right” to finance his opponents and “encourage actions to sabotage the power system and the economy.”

“We will not allow an imperial government to bring money and see how they can stop basic companies and stop the electricity to turn off all of Venezuela,” Maduro said.

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland rejected the Venezuelan government claims saying, “The US may take reciprocal action” in accordance with the Vienna Convention in diplomatic relations and Consular relations.

On March 5, Maduro expelled two US military attaches hours before announcing the death of President Hugo Chavez, accusing them of promoting “destabilization projects.”

Caracas and Washington have been without ambassadors since 2010, when late President Chavez refused to accept a newly named US ambassador to the country.