U.S. withdraws all embassy staff from Venezuela amid ongoing chaotic blackouts

Venezuelans walk to get water amid blackouts

(Image credit: Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images)

published 12 March 2019

On Monday night, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. is withdrawing the remaining staff from America's embassy in Venezuela, citing the country's further descent into chaos after four days of blackouts. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered the U.S. to withdraw all embassy staff in late January, after the Trump administration recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader, but he relented and only dependents of embassy staff were recalled to Washington. Now, the remaining diplomats will be out by the end of the week, Pompeo said.

The blackouts in the oil-rich nation have exacerbated hardships, leaving many Venezuelans without water, fresh food, or communications. Venezuela's oil infrastructure has also taken a hit.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.