The United States warned yesterday that US-Venezuelan ties will suffer now that Caracas has formally rejected US President Barack Obama’s nominee for ambassador.

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has strenuously objected to the appointment of veteran diplomat Larry Palmer after he sharply criticised the Chavez government in his Senate confirmation hearings months ago.

US State Department spokes-man Philip Crowley said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Minister Nicolas Maduro broke the news about Mr Palmer in a meeting early Friday with Darnall Steuart, the acting US charge d’affaires in Caracas.

“The Foreign Minister presented her with a diplomatic note formally withdrawing the agreement (approval) of Larry Palmer to be the ambassador to Venezuela,” Mr Crowley told reporters.

“We regret this action taken by the Venezuelan government and it will bear responsibility for that action,” he added.

“We believe that precisely because there are tensions in the relationship it was important to maintain diplomatic communications at the highest level,” he said.

“President Obama nominated Larry Palmer to serve as ambassador to Venezuela because he has a unique combination of experience, skill and wisdom to successfully represent our nation in Caracas,” Mr Crowley said.

He added that the US government has “never wavered in that view” of Mr Palmer, who has still not been formally approved by the Senate.

He said the Obama administration will now “evaluate” what action to take.

“We’re not arguing that it is within Venezuela’s rights to take this action. What we’re saying, having taken this action, there will be a consequence in terms of US-Venezuelan relations,” Mr Crowley said.

Relations between Washington and the leftist government in Caracas have been tense for years, as Mr Chavez has pressed an anti-American agenda in the region.