US President Donald Trump has backed Venezuelan counterpart Juan Guaido in a telephone call. Trump had congratulated him on the „historic“ takeover of the presidency and underpinned US support, the White House said. Trump and the opposition leaders had agreed to exchange regularly.
Guaido thanked Trump in a message on the Twitter short message service for the call. „He emphasized his total support for our democratic work, his readiness for humanitarian aid and the recognition of our transitional presidency by his government,“ he wrote.
Maduro warns about „Vietnam in Latin America“
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro previously warned against military intervention in his country. „Let’s not Vietnam in Latin America,“ he said in a „to the American people“ directed video message that was published today on Facebook. His country was the target of a media and psycho war. Every day pictures and messages were invented.
„A campaign has been prepared to justify a coup d’état prepared, funded and actively supported by the Donald Trump government in Venezuela,“ Maduro added in the video. In his words, Maduro alluded to the US role in the Vietnam War, which was considered a proxy war during the Cold War and ended in 1975.
European states issue ultimatum
In Venezuela, a power struggle is raging between the government of Maduro and Guadalaju, who has been promoted to interim president by the US and many other countries.
Several European states had recently given Maduro an ultimatum. The threat: If he does not call for free and fair elections by the weekend, Germany, France, Spain and the United Kingdom want to recognize Guaido as head of state.
