France Orders Venezuelan Diplomats to Leave Paris Within Five Days in Response to 'Hostile Conduct'

Jan 22, 2025, 02:07 PM

France has ordered the Venezuelan embassy in Paris to reduce its diplomatic staff in a reciprocal measure following Venezuela's decision to limit the number of French diplomats in Caracas to three. The French Foreign Ministry made this request on January 20, giving the affected diplomats five days to leave the country. This action comes in response to Venezuela's move on January 14 to restrict French, Italian, and Dutch diplomatic personnel in Caracas, citing 'hostile conduct' by these countries. France categorically rejects these accusations and maintains that its diplomatic efforts are aimed at facilitating a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Venezuela. The French government had previously warned Venezuela of reciprocal actions after summoning the Venezuelan chargé d'affaires in Paris.