Johnson secretly flew to Venezuela to talk about Ukraine

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson secretly flew to Venezuela last month for informal talks with its autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro. One of the topics of the negotiations was the war in Ukraine, The Times reported on Saturday, March 9.

It was learned that Johnson used a private jet for travel during a family vacation in the Dominican Republic.

The former prime minister spoke with Maduro about the war in Ukraine amid concern in Western diplomatic and intelligence circles that the oil-rich socialist republic could provide arms or other military support to Russia. He also discussed the terms of normalizing relations with Britain, which does not recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro administration.

Sources said the conditions included holding free and fair presidential elections this year and easing tensions in Guyana, a former British colony whose oil- and mineral-rich Essequibo region spans two -third of its territory, is claimed by Venezuela. Last month, the Royal Navy sent a patrol ship to the region, forcing Maduro to respond to “an act of provocation by the enemy.”

The talks are highly unusual given the state of bilateral relations and broader uncertainty over Western relations with Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves and is a staunch supporter of President Putin.

Johnson’s office said David Cameron, the foreign secretary, was aware of the visit. His spokesman added that Johnson had spoken to Colin Dick, the chargé d’affaires in Caracas – the country’s most senior British diplomat – and consulted on the subject of the conversation.

Johnson did not answer questions about who initiated the negotiations and why. The publication’s sources say that he acted as an indirect channel for the UK and the West as a whole, given the dire state of relations with the strategically important country. They suggested that the reason for the meeting was likely Johnson’s role in supporting Zelensky’s government and raising funds for Ukraine. His spokesman said the flight was private and that neither the British nor the Venezuelan government was involved in paying for it.

Sources close to the former prime minister say he still believes Maduro is a dictator who violates human rights and talks are a “one-way street” because he delivered a clear set of messages. .

Days after returning to the Dominican Republic, Johnson traveled to Kyiv, where he met with President Zelensky on the second anniversary of Russia’s massive invasion.

Johnson’s spokesman said the politician met with Venezuelan officials, with strong support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Foreign Secretary, to emphasize Venezuela’s need to accept the proper democratic process.

“He repeatedly made it clear that there is no hope of normalizing relations until Venezuela fully embraces democracy and respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors. He also laid out the case for the Venezuelan government in favor of the victory of Ukrainian,” the spokesperson said. said.

Let’s remember that at the end of January the United States reimposed sanctions against Venezuela, specifically in the oil and gas and gold mining sectors.