Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has challenged his US counterpart Barack Obama to hold "high-level dialogue" between their governments, and proposed to appoint an ambassador to Washington.
The sudden announcement yesterday was surprising given that relations between Washington and Caracas soured under Maduro's predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, and have only worsened since his death in March 2013.
"I call a dialogue with you, President Obama... Between the patriotic and revolutionary Venezuela and the United States and its government. Accept the challenge and we will start a high-level dialogue and put the truth on the table," Maduro told foreign reporters.
Maduro referred extensively during the press conference to the countries' differences, which have widened during a wave of deadly opposition protests rattling the leading OPEC member since early February. At least eight people have died in the violence.
The Venezuelan president, whose government claims opposition leaders are in Washington's pay, accuse the United States of plotting his overthrow.
US agencies "have given the green light for the overthrown of the government that I lead," Maduro said, urging Obama to show that he can "initiate a change in policy, at least in Latin America and the Caribbean."
Maduro said he would designate Foreign Minister Elias Jaua to talks with the United States, urging Obama to appoint Secretary of State John Kerry or "whoever."
But the Venezuelan leader also recognised that any dialogue between the longtime foes would be "difficult, complex."
"President Barack Obama, now is the time for the ruling elites in the United States to feel the same when it comes to talking face to face, on equal terms, with the revolutionary movement in Latin America," he said.
On Sunday, Maduro accused Washington of plotting with anti-government protesters and expelled three US diplomats in retaliation, bringing the total to eight American diplomats ousted from Venezuela in a year.
