Analysts Claim Turkey Is Now the Only Viable Diplomatic Bridge Between the U.S. And Venezuela

Turkey's government is positioning itself as the most viable diplomatic link between Washington and Caracas, according to analysts cited by Argentina-based international affairs outlet Escenario Mundial.

The report argues that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's administration is leveraging its status as a NATO member while maintaining political, financial, and commercial ties with Venezuela, enabling Ankara to act as the only channel with open communication to both sides.

The outlet describes a commercial framework in which Venezuela's Central Bank sends monetary gold to Turkish refineries for conversion into liquidity, allowing Caracas to bypass U.S. financial sanctions. Analysts say the funds are then used to purchase food and essential goods from Turkish companies that support Venezuela's state-run CLAP subsidy programs.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has monitored the gold-for-imports system, warning of sanctions-evasion risks. Ankara has defended the relationship as "legitimate sovereign trade" between nations. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies has described the gold route as "the financial lifeline that prevented a total collapse" of Venezuela's reserves under Washington's pressure campaign.

Analysts from the Atlantic Council noted that Turkey's role presents a strategic complication for the United States: a military ally sustaining a government Washington considers an adversary in the Western Hemisphere. Erdogan's approach, they said, is part of a foreign-policy doctrine aimed at expanding Turkish influence independently of U.S. and European priorities.

Escenario Mundial also points to Turkish Airlines' continued operations in Caracas as reinforcing Ankara's value to the Maduro government, offering international access while most Western airlines have suspended service.

Turkey could become the likely destination for members of Venezuela's leadership if an agreement included safe passage as the report notes that Turkey is not party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. For government officials under international investigation, analysts say this makes Istanbul "a much safer legal refuge" than other allied countries.

While Turkey's role has drawn attention, other governments have recently signaled interest in diplomatic involvement. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said during the weekend that Doha is "waiting" to be asked to mediate between the United States and Venezuela while Panama's Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Hoyos said President José Raúl Mulino has offered to "temporarily host" individuals connected to Venezuela's government to help resolve the crisis.