Colombia’s President Ivan Duque Marquez has left open whether he allows the US to operate militarily against Venezuela from his country. When asked if he could imagine a US military deployment on the Venezuelan border, Duque said yesterday evening (local time) in Bogota that the world needs to keep an eye on what’s going on in Venezuela.
All measures must be taken to end the „genocide by the dictatorship in Venezuela“. Duque wanted to travel to Washington shortly after a meeting with the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss the situation in Venezuela with US President Donald Trump.
„There is no humanitarian crisis“
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro prevents relief supplies, especially from the US, from entering the country. Steinmeier said after the meeting with Duque, the humanitarian situation in Venezuela was dramatic. The situation in the South American country is „completely open“. It is important to prevent bloodshed.
However, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza denied that his country was in a humanitarian crisis. „There is no humanitarian crisis. There is an economy that is under blockade, „said Arreaza at the United Nations in New York yesterday.
The claim of a humanitarian crisis called Arreaza „hypocrisy“. The US threatened Venezuela with violence and called on other states to blockade, but at the same time provided humanitarian aid as a political lever.
Thousands demonstrate for humanitarian aid
Tens of thousands of people in Venezuela yesterday followed a call from self-proclaimed Transitional President Juan Guaido to demonstrate for the import permit of US aid. The largely white-dressed demonstrators called „Freedom!“ And „Guaido“ and waved Venezuelan national flags.
In his speech, Guaido announced that foreign relief supplies should be brought into the country from February 23 – against Maduro’s resistance. Guaido had called its supporters on the Venezuelan Youth Day to participate in nationwide protests. At the same time, government supporters in the center of the capital demonstrated against the „imperialist invasion“ of the USA.
Russia warns USA
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo against any intervention in Venezuelan internal affairs, including the military. The Russian Foreign Ministry said after a telephone conversation between the two. Lavrov said that Russia is ready to consult on Venezuela in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
