US considers military option on Venezuela

President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering military options as a response to the escalating crisis in Venezuela, describing the situation there as a “very dangerous mess.”

Washington has slapped sanctions on Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and some of his allies, and branded him a “dictator” over his attempts to crush his country’s opposition. Venezuela has in turn accused America of “imperialist aggression.”

But Friday’s latest comments were the first sign that Trump may be mulling a military intervention.

“We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary,” Trump said. “We have troops all over the world in places that are very far away. Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering and they’re dying.”

The White House, meanwhile, said Trump will speak to Venezuela’s leader “as soon as democracy is restored in that country”, saying Maduro requested a phone call with Trump. The UK has been criticised for selling military equipment worth millions of pounds to Venezuela over the last decade, prompting calls for Prime Minister Theresa May to suspend controlled export licences.

Government figures on Friday showed military equipment was approved for sale from UK-based companies to Venezuela’s armed forces as recently as September last year, despite the foreign office listing the country as “of concern” regarding human rights. AGENCIES