Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were "kidnapped" during a U.S. military operation earlier this month, and that efforts to reopen diplomatic missions between Caracas and Washington are primarily aimed at ensuring their safety and return.
"Progress is being made on the reopening of the embassies of Venezuela in the United States and the United States in Venezuela," Cabello said during a press conference of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), broadcast on state television, adding that the move would allow Venezuela to restore consular representation to "look after the security and peace of mind of our President Nicolás Maduro and of Cilia in the United States."
