The Diplomat
The ambassadors of Nicaragua, Maurizio Gelli, and Venezuela, Coromoto Godoy, presented their Letters of Credence to King Felipe VI yesterday, at the same time as four other new heads of mission, those of the United Arab Emirates, Gambia, New Zealand and Kazakhstan.
The official accreditation of the two South American ambassadors marks the complete re-establishment of diplomatic relations with both countries.
In the case of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega’s government recalled his predecessor, Carlos Midence, for alleged ‘interference pressure’ in March 2022, months after the withdrawal of the Spanish ambassador in Managua María del Mar Fernández-Palacios.
As for Venezuela, the withdrawal of the previous ambassador, Mario Isea, followed a series of disagreements that led to the expulsion of the Spanish ambassador to Caracas, Jesús Silva.
Both ambassadors handed in their Copies of Letters of Credence months ago at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but were unable to present their accreditations until now, as the traditional ceremony at the Royal Palace had not been convened since January this year.
In addition to Gelli and Godoy, the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Omar Obaid Mohamed Alhesan Alshamsi; Gambia, Noah Touray; New Zealand, Tara Deborah Morton; and Kazakhstan, Danat Mussayev, also presented their credentials to the King.
