In a closed-door meeting that set the stage for further dialogue on the South American crisis, National Security Advisor to the Vice President Phil Gordon met with high-ranking diplomatic representatives from various Western Hemisphere nations, as reported by the White House. The discussion centered on Venezuela's tumultuous political climate following the July 28 presidential election, a subject that has drawn considerable international attention and concern.

Gordon, flanked by Daniel Erikson, Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council, and Mark Wells, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, conveyed a message of unity with the Venezuelan population "for their participation in the July 28 presidential election despite significant challenges," and according to the White House, he underscored the Vice President’s commitment to restoring democratic norms within the troubled nation, to say nothing of his outright rejection of any form of political violence or repression.

The meeting, which involved representatives from Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, also became a platform for Gordon to reiterate the Biden-Harris Administration's support for Edmundo González Urrutia, who they maintain won the most votes in the recent presidential contest. This stance is a clear indication of where the U.S. government stands amid allegations of electoral irregularities within Venezuela.

Two days before the meeting, these countries collectively passed an Organization of American States' resolution calling for an "impartial investigation into the recent elections in Venezuela," a step Gordon commended for its movement towards accountability, transparency and he was explicit in stating that "now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law and the wishes of the Venezuelan people," echoing the sentiments expressed in his earlier statements that reflect a broader international call for a return to democratic principles in the Latin American country.