On Tuesday, the government of the United States of America ordered the expulsion of three Venezuelan diplomats after Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro, ordered the expulsion of three American consuls from Caracas last week.
The United States Department of State emitted a press release in which it declares three Venezuelan secretaries in Washington to be Personae Non Gratae, following the expulsion of three Americans ordered by Venezuela last Feb. 17, giving them a period of 48 hours to leave the country, according to Reuters.
"This convention allows the United States to declare a member of a diplomatic mission a 'persona non grata', at any time and without the need to provide a reason," informed the United States Department of State.
The bilateral disputes between the United States and Venezuela started during the government of the late President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013). However, the commercial relationship considers the United States market to be one of the main consumers of oil from OPEC member countries.
The United States Department of State's announcement comes moments after President Maduro announced the upcoming naming of a new Venezuelan Ambassador for the United States.
Maduro said that the society of the United States is misinformed regarding the reality of life in Venezuela, describing as "insane" the request of some Venezuelans living in the United States to intervene militarily to end the violence and the government's repression.
"They (Americans) think we're killing each other. They think we can't even go out to the corner of the street. They're asking the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela. That's insane! If that happens, you and I will be with out there with rifle in hand to defend our land," said Maduro in a national message reported Reuters.
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