Foreign Policy Blogs

New Ambassadors to Venezuela and Cuba

President Calderon has named new ambassadors to Venezuela and Cuba, in an effort to improve diplomatic relations with the two socialist regimes. Mexico's current ambassador to Colombia, Jesus Mario Chacon Carrillo, will head to Venezuela, filling a two-year vacancy in the top diplomatic post there. Calderon has also asked Congress to send Gabriel Jimenez to Cuba, replacing a Vicente Fox appointee.

The Carrillo appointment comes after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appointed an ambassador to Mexico earlier in the week. Chavez had previously refused to recognize Calderon's victory in Mexico's presidential election, and in 2005, called then-President Fox a “puppy” of the United States. The reinstatement of ambassadors now brings a new opening in diplomatic relations and dialogue.