Venezuela's Foreign Minister Expresses Gratitude to India
Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil on Sunday thanked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his greetings on Venezuela's Independence Day and expressed appreciation for India's assistance as the country recovers from devastating earthquakes.
In a post on X, Gil said, "Thank you, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, for your warm greetings to the people of Venezuela on our Independence Day. Venezuela and India are trusted partners, united by a longstanding friendship and a promising shared future. I also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation for India's solidarity and meaningful support as Venezuela faces these challenging times. Together, we will continue strengthening the bonds between our nations."
Jaishankar Extends Greetings, Reaffirms Bilateral Ties
Earlier on Sunday, Jaishankar extended greetings to the government and people of Venezuela on their National Day. In a post on X, he wrote, "Warm greetings to FM Yvan Gil, the Government and people of Venezuela on their National Day. Look forward to enhancing our engagement." The post included an image of the last meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
Operation Amistad: India's Humanitarian Response
India continues rescue and humanitarian efforts in Venezuela under Operation Amistad, as the Latin American country grapples with the aftermath of twin earthquakes that struck on June 24. On Saturday, Gil visited the field hospital set up by India under the operation and praised the medical services provided.
In a post on X, Gil said, "Operation Friendship, carried out by our sister nation of India, has established a hospital center at the Caracas Racetrack that provides comprehensive and high-quality care to all those affected by the tragedy of the double seismic event. We had the opportunity to tour the facility and witness this moving demonstration of solidarity, alongside the Ambassador of India to Venezuela, P.K. Ashok Babu."
He added, "On behalf of the Bolivarian Government and the people of Venezuela, we express our most sincere gratitude to the Government and the people of India, especially to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for extending a helping hand to those who have suffered as a result of this calamity."
Earthquake Casualties and Ongoing Relief
As of Friday, 2,645 people have been confirmed dead after two consecutive earthquakes struck less than a minute apart on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, respectively, according to Al Jazeera. India's Operation Amistad continues to provide medical aid and support to affected communities.
