Venezuela is not against US interests and hopes to have "mature, sensible relations" with Washington, Venezuelan Ambassador to Washington Bernardo Álvarez claimed Thursday, as quoted by AFP.

"Being a threat is not our policy. We do not mean it," the diplomat told reporters during a breakfast, one week after the expulsion from Caracas of US Embassy Navy Attaché and a prompt similar reply by Washington.

"Our policy is to advance alternative development based on true priorities, such as fight against poverty and social exclusion," Álvarez pointed out, adding that his government tries also to boost regional integration.

"We do not regard it as against the interests of the United States or any other nation. We are not against the United States. We are against some of the US administration policies," he stressed.

"What we want is to have mature, sensible relations between two countries with many things in common and numerous and significant political differences."