U.S considering use of military action against Venezuela — US Official

EditorApril 6, 2019

1 minute read

The United States is considering the use of military action against Venezuela as diplomatic measures are becoming inefficient, a high-ranking US administration official said on Friday.
The United States’ diplomatic tools “continue to diminish due to Maduro’s recent actions,” the official said.
“These tools are diminishing, which is leaving us with increased economic tools and increased economic pressure and also a military option, which, as President Trump has said, is on the table,” the source went on.
He added that the military option was the result that “no one would like to see,” but it remains “the one being seriously considered as events unfold.”

“The European community, the United States and the Lima group have made it clear that the consequences of any harm that comes, or an arrest of Juan Guaido would be devastating to Maduro, it would be the worst and last mistake he makes, and, therefore, we are watching very closely,” the official said.

Trump earlier said his country has almost run out of economic and political options on Venezuela and was now considering the military scenario.
Juan Guaido, Venezuelan opposition leader and parliament speaker, whose appointment to that position had been cancelled by the country’s Supreme Court, declared himself interim president at a rally in the country’s capital of Caracas on January 23. Several countries, including the United States, Lima Group members (excluding Mexico), as well as the Organization of American States, recognized him as president.
Venezuela’s incumbent President Nicolas Maduro blasted these actions as an attempted coup and said that he was cutting diplomatic ties with the United States.
In contrast, Russia, Belarus, Bolivia, Iran, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria and Turkey voiced support for Maduro.