Venezuelan FM Goes to Lebanon, Slated to Continue to Syria

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Wednesday met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. They discussed current developments in Venezuela, bilateral relations between the two countries, and the situation of people of Lebanese descent living in Venezuela. The South American country is home to one of the largest Lebanese diasporas, with estimates ranging from 350,000 to 500,000 people. Arreaza was also scheduled to meet with an official from Hizbullah before continuing to Syria. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government has warm ties with Syria and its allies in Lebanon, who are against Washington’s policies on Caracas. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in January, judging Maduro’s re-election illegitimate. The Maduro regime deems the declaration to have been in breach of the constitution, saying Guaido should be held criminally responsible.