Former envoy says Ottawa is 'parroting' Trump on Venezuela

Ben Rowswell, Canada's former ambassador to Venezuela, said Ottawa is echoing U.S. positions by raising the prospect of future elections after Nicolas Maduro's ouster; Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand attributed comments about future Venezuelan elections to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ben Rowswell, who served as Canada's ambassador to Venezuela, criticized Ottawa for echoing U.S. statements about Venezuela after the reported ouster of President Nicolas Maduro. He made the remarks in response to a statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand that attributed comments about future elections to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rowswell, now a consultant with Catalyze4, said Canada should focus on restoring the leaders he says voters chose in the 2024 election. The report was published Jan. 7, 2026. What officials said: - Ben Rowswell said Ottawa is "parroting" Washington by giving air to the idea of fresh elections in Venezuela. - Anita Anand said Rubio spoke on a G7 foreign ministers call about the importance of democracy in Venezuela and the release of political prisoners. - The report notes that U.S. President Donald Trump has said the U.S. captured Maduro for economic gain and to stop drug trafficking, a view presented as differing from the remarks Anand attributed to Rubio. - Rowswell is now a consultant with the group Catalyze4 and made these comments in reaction to Anand's statement. Summary: The exchange highlights differing views in Canada about how to respond to developments in Venezuela and about how to characterise recent U.S. comments. Undetermined at this time.