Trump military threat ‘crazy’

United States President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention in Venezuela is ‘‘an act of craziness’’, says the South American country’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino said.

Trump said yesterday that ‘‘a possible military option’’ was under consideration for the crisisracked nation.

Venezuela is deep in a recession compounded by shortages of food and medicine, while antigovernment protests have killed more than 120 people since April.

Responding to Trump, Padrino told state television’’ ‘‘It is an act of craziness. It is an act of supreme extremism. There is an extremist elite that rules the United States.

‘‘As a soldier, I stand with the Venezuelan armed forces, and with the people. I am sure that we will all be on the front lines of defending the interests and sovereignty of this beloved Venezuela.’’

Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas called Trump’s remark ‘‘an unprecedented threat to national sovereignty’’.

Last month’s election of a legislative superbody packed with allies of unpopular socialist President Nicolas Maduro drew international condemnation for usurping the authority of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress.

Maduro says the assembly, which has the power to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution, is needed to bring peace and prosperity to the oil-rich but economically ailing country. Critics say it casts aside any remaining checks on Maduro’s power.

The opposition boycotted vote for the assembly.

The White House said Maduro requested a phone call with Trump yesterday, which the administration appeared to spurn, saying in a statement that Trump would gladly speak with the leader of Venezuela once democracy was restored. the