Venezuela Approves Samuel Moncada as Ambassador to France, Andorra, and Monaco

Venezuela's National Assembly has approved Samuel Moncada as the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to France, with concurrent diplomatic representation for Andorra and Monaco. The designation received backing during an ordinary session of the Venezuelan parliament on Tuesday.

Moncada will serve as Venezuela's primary diplomatic representative to Andorra, with his accreditation based in Paris—a standard arrangement for relations with European microstates. The Venezuelan News Agency reported that his mission aims to strengthen ties with France and revive historical cooperation frameworks, extending those efforts to Andorra and Monaco through concurrent representation.

A prominent figure in Venezuelan diplomacy and the government of Nicolás Maduro, Moncada is a trained historian who has held senior roles including foreign minister, ambassador to the Organization of American States, representative to the United Kingdom, and permanent ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2026.

During the parliamentary session, deputy Azucena Jaspe endorsed Moncada's qualifications, stating that the appointment comes at a time when the Venezuelan government seeks to bolster diplomatic links with Europe and launch a new phase of international relations grounded in mutual respect.

The move occurs as Andorra maintains diplomatic relations with Venezuela but without resident representation in the Principat. Such accreditations are typically handled via embassies in third countries, most often Paris or Madrid. The designation had prior approval from the Assembly's Foreign Affairs Commission before full ratification.