Venezuela: US increasingly isolated as allies warn against use of military force

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Venezuela: US increasingly isolated as allies warn against use of military force

Mike Pence says ‘all options are on the table’ in effort to oust Maduro while key allies warn they would oppose sending troops

Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogotá, Emma Graham-Harrison in Caracas and Sam Jones in Madrid
Mon 25 Feb 2019 19.32 GMT

US vice-president Mike Pence has repeated a veiled threat of military intervention in Venezuela, but Washington appeared increasingly isolated in its willingness to contemplate using force to oust President Nicolás Maduro.

Both European powers and some of Donald Trump’s key Latin American allies – all of whom have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader – warned that they would oppose sending troops into the country.

Guaidó had for weeks insisted his movement was focused on peaceful, democratic change. But after the opposition failed in a weekend bid to defy Caracas and bring aid into the country, he called on the international community to “keep all options open”.

That hint at the use of military force won an enthusiastic response from hawks like US senator Marco Rubio, but sparked alarm elsewhere, particularly as Trump has previously mooted ordering an invasion.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/25/venezuela-mike-pence-maduro-guaido

[Ghost Dog]

1. China opposes intervention

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China opposes outside forces interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs and using so-called "humanitarian aid" to achieve political purposes, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokesperson Lu Kang said China hopes for peace and stability in Venezuela and calls for compliance with international laws and basic principles in international relations.

"Stirring up instability or even unrest in Venezuela and the region is not in the interests of any of the parties," he said... "We once again urge the Venezuelan government and the opposition to seek a political solution through dialogue and consultations within the constitutional and legal framework," Lu said.

He also called on the international community to do things truly conducive to the national stability and economic development of Venezuela and improvement of people's livelihood...

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/25/c_137849380.htm