Post-Maduro, Rodríguez launches first foreign trip in Grenada

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez chose Grenada as her first overseas destination since taking office, following the U.S’s ousting and abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in early January.

During her time in St. George’s on Thursday, Rodriguez began by meeting with Governor-General Dame Cécile Ellen Fleurette La Grenade, before holding formal talks and other engagements with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and other top officials. These meetings underscored the importance Grenada places on the evolving relationship with Venezuela.

Earlier this year, in the context of Venezuela, there was a pressure campaign and brief military action to capture Maduro. The federation with Petite Martinique and Carriacou then made world headlines by successfully facing down pressure from Washington to allow the U.S. military to set up a radar facility at the main airport.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez inspecting the Honor Guard following her arrival at the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada.Photo courtesy Government of Grenada

Politicians, civil society groups, and ordinary Grenadians had taken to the streets and to social media platforms to rail against the proposal from the US, reminding all and sundry that the same U.S. military had invaded the country back in 1983. Despite these strong objections, the radar system, designed to monitor activity 100 miles south of Venezuela, was eventually established and later dismantled in neighboring Tobago amid withering criticism from political and civil society groups and activists.

Speaking with reporters as the visit wrapped up, Prime Minister Mitchell thanked the Venezuelan president for choosing Grenada as her first overseas trip since being installed as head of state to replace Maduro, who was removed from office and is now awaiting trial on alleged international drug-related charges.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez takes the salute by the Honor Guard following her arrival at the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada. Photo courtesy Government of Grenada

“Our discussions this afternoon focused exclusively on strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Grenada and Venezuela. We engaged in a number of cross-cutting areas, ranging from energy, agriculture, education, trade, tourism, transport, and logistics,” he told reporters. “We intend to take action on many of those items by having dedicated local groups from both Grenada and Venezuela’s side.”

For her part, Rodriguez thanks Grenada for hosting her first foreign visit, noting, “I am truly honored to be welcomed here by you and your administration. The history of Grenada is a true example to the peoples of the Caribbean and Latin America that, overcoming all difficulties, they persevered in their self-determination and sovereignty. Building on this foundation, she pointed to future cooperation in agriculture, education, food security, language training, and hydrocarbons, explaining that the visit allowed both sides to update the roadmap established last year with President Maduro. She added, “I am truly happy that we can look forward to strengthening areas of cooperation.”