Paris, Jan 22 (Reuters) - France has instructed the Venezuelan embassy in Paris to downsize its diplomatic personnel, granting some diplomats a five-day deadline to depart the country in response to Caracas' directive for French and other European diplomats to leave.
The French foreign ministry stated, "This decision is a reciprocal measure following the Venezuelan authorities' decision of Jan. 14 to reduce our diplomatic presence in Caracas, a move that we firmly oppose."
Last week, Venezuela announced limitations on French, Italian, and Dutch diplomats in Caracas, reducing their embassy staff to three individuals, citing the "hostile" reactions of their governments to President Nicolas Maduro's re-election for a third term.
In a show of solidarity, France summoned a high-ranking Venezuelan official in Paris to express discontent and issued a warning of corresponding actions, while the Dutch government mandated Venezuela to decrease its diplomatic representation in the Netherlands from four to two in retaliation.
Italy had also summoned Venezuela's top diplomat in Rome in protest of this decision and the lack of information concerning an Italian national detained two months earlier.
Several Western nations, including France, Italy, and the Netherlands, have refused to acknowledge Maduro's victory in Venezuela's presidential election in July 2024. Condemnations of Maduro's inauguration last week were vocal from these countries, while the United States offered a $25 million reward for Maduro's apprehension.