The newly appointed ambassador of the European Union in Venezuela, Gilles Bertrand, has landed this Monday in Caracas, as confirmed by both community authorities and the Venezuelan Government. The day coincided with the announcement by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, of the appointment of the until now deputy minister of Foreign Affairs for the Caribbean, Raúl LiCausi, as the new ambassador in Brussels.
"This is how the twists of diplomatic life go. This morning I passed through my beloved Bogotá, where I had the honor of being the Ambassador of the European Union in 2021-25, to take on my new position in the beautiful neighboring country: Venezuela. New country, new challenges, same enthusiasm!", Bertrand pointed out in a message shared on social media, accompanied by an image of a boarding gate for a flight to Caracas.
Shortly after, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela officially confirmed the arrival of the European representative, as part of a mission that, according to Caracas, seeks "to foster mutual understanding and deepen bilateral cooperation under a framework of respect for sovereignty".
In parallel, also this Monday, Delcy Rodríguez communicated through a brief message on social media the designation of LiCausi as the head of the Venezuelan Embassy to the European Union and as "extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, with concurrent accreditation to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg".
Rodríguez framed these changes in a broader process of renewal of key positions, stating that she has "decided to appoint new authorities in strategic areas to strengthen the international, commercial, and energy projection of Venezuela".
Along with the appointment of LiCausi, the message includes other changes in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Andrea Gabriela Corao will head the Agency for the Promotion of Exports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (VENEXPORTA); Carlos Amador Pérez takes on the position of deputy minister for the Caribbean in place of the new ambassador in Brussels; and Eduardo Antonio Ramírez is appointed deputy minister for Asia and Oceania.
Additionally, the president has informed of the promotion of Radamés Gómez Azuaje to deputy minister of Geopolitics of Hydrocarbons, within the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, thus completing the package of appointments aimed at strengthening the country's foreign and energy policy.