Venezuela, US Begin Talks

Began trying to improve ties in November

Venezuela and the U.S. are making tentative moves to improve relations even as Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez struggles to recover from an unknown type of cancer at a Cuban hospital.

Officials say the détente began in late November, when Roberta Jacobson, the U.S.'s top diplomat for Latin America, telephoned Venezuela's Vice President Nicolás Maduro, the Chávez-designated heir. Both sides discussed areas of mutual interest, according to U.S. officials.

"We have for some time made it clear that we were willing and open to trying to improve our ties with Venezuela," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a news briefing this week.