US President Donald Trump in an interview broadcast Sunday said US military intervention in crisis-torn Venezuela is an “option.” His remarks came as a response to a question on the US national security and if Washington would intervene in the Latin American country.
“US IS FAR ALONG IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH GUAIDO”
“Well, I don’t want to say that. But certainly, it’s something that’s on the – it’s an option,” Trump told Margaret Brennan of the CBS program “Face the Nation”.
Trump also said that he had turned down a request by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to hold a meeting a “number of months ago”, saying that the US is far along in the process of working with Guaido, National Assembly President.
“I decided at the time, ‘no’ because so many really horrible things have been happening in Venezuela when you look at that country. That was the wealthiest country of all in that part of the world which is a very important part of the world. And now you look at the poverty and you look at the anguish and you look at the crime and you look at all of the things happening,” Trump added.
Tension arose in Venezuela on Jan. 23 when Guaido declared himself interim president following mass protests throughout the country.
The US, Canada and most Latin American countries have recognized Guaido as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, but Maduro has so far refused calls to step down.
The US has led an international campaign to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Maduro, including sanctioning the country’s state-owned oil company and a joint venture with its Nicaraguan counterpart. It has warned of grave repercussions if Guaido is harmed.