Trump orders Russia to ‘get out of Venezuela’ as tensions escalate
Superpowers lock horns after 100 troops from Moscow arrive to back Nicolás Maduro’s regime
DONALD TRUMP told Russia to “get out” of Venezuela yesterday after 100 of its troops landed to help President Nicolás Maduro, escalating a war of words between Washington and Moscow.
The US president’s rebuke was delivered as he held talks in the White House with Fabiana Rosales, the wife of Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan opposition politician who had declared himself interim president.
America, along with many European and South American nations, supports his claim to the presidency while Russia and China back Mr Maduro.
The political crisis intensified on Saturday when two Russian air force planes touched down outside Caracas carrying the Russian troops. Cyber experts were reportedly among the “special forces” dispatched from Moscow.
Experts believe Russia is trying to protect its investments, having loaned Venezuela billions of dollars and invested in the country’s oil industry.
“Russia has to get out,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, seated alongside Ms Rosales, a journalist.
Earlier Mr Trump had told her: “We are with Venezuela, we are with your husband, as you know, and we are with the people that he represents, which is a big, big majority of the country.
“What’s happening there should not happen and be allowed to happen anywhere. So we are with you 100 per cent, OK? Please give my regards. It will all work out.”
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, hit back on Twitter, sending messages with the slogans “Handsoffvenezuela” and “Yankeegohome”.
“It’s not up to US to decide actions and fate of other countries,” Mr Polyanskiy wrote. “It’s only up to the people of Venezuela and its only legitimate president, Nicolás Maduro. We have bilateral relations and agreements with this country, which we will honour.”
The exchanges were the latest in an increasingly hostile exchange between US and Russian administrations. Venezuela’s population is underfed and facing both hyperinflation and political repression. Mr Maduro has refused to allow aid to enter the country.
The latest crisis was triggered in January when Mr Guaidó, head of the National Assembly, declared himself interim president, claiming Mr Maduro’s election was illegitimate.
On Tuesday, Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, telephoned Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, to warn America would “not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions”. Mr Lavrov replied that Washington’s attempts to organise a coup and threaten its legitimate government” violated UN rules. John Bolton, the US national se- curity adviser, issued his own message on Twitter, stating: “The legitimate interim president, Juan Guaidó, asks for humanitarian aid to support those in need. Maduro asks for Cuban and Russian goons to suppress the people of Venezuela. The military ranks are seeing Maduro’s corruption, violence, and lack of support within Venezuela.” Mr Guaidó yesterday called on supporters to protest against another nationwide power outage that was dragging into its third day.
Mr Pompeo yesterday estimated that rebuilding Venezuela’s economy could cost up to £9billion, warning it would take years to complete.
Ms Rosales, a 26-year-old journalist
‘It’s not up to US to decide actions and fate of other countries’
and opposition activist, told Mr Trump that her husband was attacked on Tuesday, though she did not provide details.
“I fear for my husband’s life,” she said. She was accompanied by the wife and sister of Roberto Marrero, Mr Guaidó’s chief of staff, who was arrested and detained last week.