Kremlin still in Maduro’s corner
Russia’s foreign minister visited Venezuela yesterday in a show of support for President Nicolas Maduro as United States vows of more pressure threaten to cut off the socialist leader from a key financial ally in Moscow.
Sergey Lavrov’s stop in Caracas followed a trip by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido to Washington, where officials in the Trump administration say they are preparing to escalate efforts to force out Maduro.
The Russian diplomat urged the international community to back a ‘‘political and diplomatic’’ solution to Venezuela’s troubles, and denounced the US campaign to oust Maduro with sanctions and other measures.
US officials say the Trump administration will soon decide whether to impose penalties on Russia’s powerful state oil company Rosneft, an important financial lifeline to Maduro.
US President Donald Trump this week reaffirmed his support for Guaido, recognising him in his State of the Union address as Venezuela’s ‘‘true and legitimate’’ leader and calling Maduro a ‘‘tyrant’’, and welcoming Guaido to a coveted Oval Office meeting.
The gesture bolstered Guaido as support back home fades a year after he rose to the centre of Venezuela’s tumultuous political landscape, vowing to oust Maduro and end the oil-rich nation’s political and financial crisis.
The US and nearly 60 nations back Guaido, saying Maduro claimed victory in fraudulent elections in 2018. Maduro remains in power with backing from the Venezuelan military and allies including Cuba, China and Turkey.
The Russians have provided Venezuela with substantial assistance, including an air defence system and help circumventing US sanctions on its oil industry, but insist that the extent of their support has been exaggerated by US officials.
Lavrov also appeared at a meeting with members of Maduro’s government and minority opposition parties participating in a dialogue promoted by the socialist administration. The US and Guaido reject the talks, which do not include major opposition leaders like Guaido. Moscow insists that Maduro’s government should not be excluded from any dialogue about a solution to Venezuela’s problems.