Outgoing US ambassador concerned Venezuela’s agenda defined by opposition to US
By APWednesday, June 30, 2010
US envoy concerned about ties with Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela — The outgoing U.S. ambassador to Venezuela says he is concerned that President Hugo Chavez’s government has defined its agenda by opposing Washington, and that commercial ties are fraying as a result.
Ambassador Patrick Duddy said in a speech Wednesday that these are “difficult times” in the U.S.-Venezuela relationship and that he’s concerned the countries’ “long-standing commercial ties are weakening.”
The U.S. remains Venezuela’s leading trading partner and the top buyer of oil from the country, through oil exports to the U.S. have slipped recently as Chavez has sought to diversify.
Duddy, who is ending his assignment in Caracas, said he’s concerned Venezuela’s government has an agenda defined by “opposition to the United States.”
