Following the transfer of Russian soldiers to Venezuela, US President Donald Trump has called on the government in Moscow to give up its support for the controversial head of state Nicolás Maduro. „Russia has to get out,“ said Trump in Washington at a meeting with Fabiana Rosales, wife of self-proclaimed Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó. Asked if this message had been clearly communicated to the Russians, Trump said, „You know that very well.“
At the weekend, two Russian military aircraft had landed in Venezuela. According to Venezuelan media reports, it was a transport machine Antonov 124 and a Ilyushin 62, which carried 99 military and a freight of 35 tons on board. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow confirmed this, but did not provide any information on the quota.
Russia calls on the US to restraint
Russia rejected the demand of the US president as unacceptable. „Now Trump interferes in the bilateral relations of two sovereign countries,“ said the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, the agency Interfax. Trump tries to dictate to Russia what it has to do and what not. Moscow’s relations with Venezuela and military cooperation are in line with international law.
On Monday, the US government had sharply criticized Russia’s assistance to Maduro and the deployment of military forces into the country, threatening vaguely with consequences. The US State Department said it would not be idle to watch Russia intensify tension in Venezuela. US Vice President Mike Pence spoke of a „provocation“.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Sakharova, a stay of soldiers in the South American country is regulated in an agreement between the two countries for military cooperation. In addition, the stay is in „strict accordance“ with the Venezuelan Constitution.
Russia is one of the states supporting Maduro’s government. The USA, Germany, numerous other EU states and Latin American countries have recognized Guaidó as the rightful transitional president. Despite international support, the opposition leader in Venezuela was unable to build a real power base by itself. Above all, the powerful military continues to be loyal to Maduro.
Trump: „All options are open“
With new mass demonstrations Guaidó wants to increase the pressure. Across the country, people should take to the streets on Saturday and demand the resignation of Maduro, he said Wednesday. „The regime is about to collapse.“ He also called on the armed forces to join the opposition. „Soldiers, fulfill your duty,“ he said. „We do not want a rebellion, we want free elections.“ (Read an interview with Juan Guaidó here.)
The US government has been trying for weeks to force Maduro to retreat – mainly by economic sanctions against its environment. Asked if the US wants to further increase pressure on Maduro’s leadership, Trump said, „Unlike military, you can not build more pressure than you already have.“ He reiterated, „All options are open.“
The US president complained that Venezuela had great potential, but under Maduro’s leadership everything had been destroyed. People were starving, beaten and killed. „They have no water, they have no electricity.“ Since Monday, people in large parts of the country are suffering from a major blackout – the second in the month.
According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, more and more people are likely to flee Venezuela in the face of the severe political and economic crisis. It is expected that another two million people will leave the country, he said at a hearing before a committee of the US House of Representatives. Over three million Venezuelans have already sold abroad.
