"We love the USA": Venezuela's socialist dictator asks for visa to attend NYC salsa festival

Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro on Friday expressed his “love” for the United States during an appearance on a state-run radio show.

“Cilia and I are leaving, straight to New York. They are waiting for me. I like New York very much, I have driven there often," said the president, indicating that he would travel accompanied by his wife. "My greetings to all the people of the United States of America.”

"We love the United States of America, for the United States what we have is love," he added.

Although Maduro currently has a warrant out for his arrest in the United States, the autocrat said knows NYC’s neighborhoods well and would love an opportunity to return.

"In the south of New York there is Little Italy, where they sell world-class spaghetti. And Chinatown, Manhattan, the Puerto Rican neighborhood and the Dominican neighborhood. That's where I spent my time in the streets of New York," he said.

Before signing off, Maduro assured his audience that he will apply for a U.S. visa to attend a June 11 salsa festival in New York City – a date that would place him in the city during the Biden administration’s Summit of the Americas, scheduled for June 6-10. 

Since Biden took office, the Maduro regime has attempted several rapprochements with Washington. It was not until this week, however, that it became known that the Biden administration would ease some sanctions against Venezuela in an attempt to reopen negotiations between Maduro and the opposition.

Ultimately, the dropping of sanctions will allow Chevron Corp. to negotiate its license with state oil company PDVSA – although senior U.S. government officials told the Associated Press on Monday that the oil giant would not be permitted to drill for or export Venezuelan oil. 

The two officials – who spoke on condition of anonymity – also said Carlos Erik Malpica-Flores, a former high-ranking PDVSA official and nephew of Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, will be removed from the list of sanctioned individuals.

Several U.S. politicians on Tuesday criticized the easing of economic sanctions on Venezuela, asserting that Biden "continues his efforts to appease anti-U.S. communist dictators."

The regime suspended negotiations with the Venezuelan opposition in October following the extradition to the United States of Maduro's front man, Alex Saab, accused of conspiracy to launder money. 

U.S. officials stated that they expect talks to resume in a few weeks.