US ambassador returns to Caracas following diplomatic spat with Venezuela

October 8th, 2009 Venezuela and Britain reaffirm anti-drug effortsCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government says it is reaffirming an agreement with Britain to work together to prevent drug trafficking. The state-run Bolivarian News Agency says an official of Britain's Foreign Office signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate with Venezuela on anti-drug operations.

September 12th, 2009 CARACAS - A 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked several parts of Venezuela Saturday, but there were no reports of casualties or damage. Jesse Chacon, the minister for science, technology and industry, said the earthquake took place at a depth of about 15.9 km and its epicentre was located 28 km northeast of Moron in Carabobo state.

August 8th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to return ambassador to ColombiaCARACAS, Venezuela —President Hugo Chavez said Saturday he's returning his ambassador to Colombia, moving to resolve rising diplomatic tensions over weapons found in a rebel cache. Chavez told Ambassador Gustavo Marquez to return to Bogota 11 days after recalling him over Colombia's statement that the anti-tank weapons came from Venezuela.

August 5th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to buy more tanksCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says his government plans to buy dozens of tanks because Venezuela feels threatened by pending deal to increase the U.S. military presence in Colombia.

July 30th, 2009 OAS chief: Diplomacy needed to resolve spatCARACAS, Venezuela — The head of the Organization of American States urged Venezuela on Wednesday not to break off diplomatic relations with Colombia or take other drastic steps amid escalating tensions between the two South American neighbors. OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza said he was concerned by President Hugo Chavez's decision Tuesday to recall the Venezuelan ambassador from Bogota over Colombia's statement that anti-tank weapons found in a rebel arms cache came from Venezuela.

July 30th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has frozen diplomatic and trade relations with Colombia in a spat over Colombian allegations that Swedish anti-tank weapons sold to Venezuela turned up in the hands of leftist guerrillas. Citing Bogota's "irresponsible" accusations, Chavez Tuesday Wednesday recalled the ambassador to Colombia, Gustavo Marquez, and froze bilateral "diplomatic and trade relations.

July 29th, 2009 Chavez recalls Venezuela's envoy to ColombiaCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez recalled Venezuela's ambassador to Colombia and froze diplomatic relations with the neighboring country Tuesday to protest Bogota's suggestions that weapons found in a rebel arms cache could have come from Venezuela. Chavez accused the government of President Alvaro Uribe of acting "irresponsibly," saying there is no evidence the Swedish-made anti-tank rocket launchers that Colombia says its military seized came from Venezuela.

July 3rd, 2009 US envoy returns to post in VenezuelaCARACAS, Venezuela — A U.S. envoy who was expelled last year by President Hugo Chavez said Thursday he hopes to re-establish dialogue after resuming his post in Venezuela.

June 27th, 2009 Venezuelan ambassador arrives in WashingtonCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's ambassador returned to Washington on Friday as the nations moved to repair strained diplomatic ties, but the sides are not completely ready to bury the hatchet. Upon arriving in the United States, Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez called the countries' decision to restore top-level diplomatic envoys the "first step in normalizing relations." U.S.

June 25th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuela and the US have agreed to restore their diplomatic ties, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said. Washington cut off diplomatic ties with Caracas after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expelled US ambassador Patrick Duddy from the Andean nation Sep 11, 2008.

June 24th, 2009 US, Venezuela look to exchange ambassadorsWASHINGTON — The United States and Venezuela are working to send ambassadors back to each other's capitals. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Wednesday that it was unclear when the ambassadors would return or who it would be.

April 28th, 2009 Venezuela recalls ambassador to PeruCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela recalled its ambassador to protest Peru's decision to grant political asylum to a prominent opponent of President Hugo Chavez, calling it a mockery of international law and escalating a diplomatic dispute. Peru announced early Monday that it was giving Manuel Rosales, a former presidential candidate who ran against Chavez in 2006 and now claims he is being persecuted by Venezuela's socialist president, political asylum for humanitarian reasons.

April 27th, 2009 Venezuela establishes ties with PalestiniansCARACAS, Venezuela — Palestinian officials established formal ties on Monday with Venezuela and opened a diplomatic mission in the South American country. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki thanked President Hugo Chavez's government for its support during the recent Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which prompted the Venezuelan leader to break off relations with Israel.

April 22nd, 2009 US diplomat: Relations don't change overnightCARACAS, Venezuela — The top official at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela said Tuesday that ambassadors won't be returning to Washington and Caracas anytime soon, but he was optimistic that diplomatic relations will improve.

January 14th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuela has announced that it was breaking diplomatic relations with Israel 'in the face of the seriousness of the atrocities against the Palestinian people', EFE reported Thursday. In a communique released by the foreign ministry, the government of President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday that it would insist 'before the international community that the crimes against humanity committed by (Israel's) leaders be denounced before the International Criminal Court'.