Blinken Urges Maduro to Open Dialogue with Venezuelan Opposition

U.S. Secretary of State calls for direct talks following contested election and alleged human rights abuses.

Antony Blinken emphasized the need for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to engage in direct dialogue with the opposition to restore democracy.
The call for dialogue came during a meeting of 31 countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The July 28 election results, declaring Maduro the winner, are disputed by the opposition and alleged to involve electoral fraud by some Western governments.
A recent U.N. report accused the Venezuelan government of escalating repression, including the arrest of minors, which the government denies.
Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino warned that the election's outcome could have broader regional implications, highlighting concerns about rising authoritarianism.