Trump Team to Confront Russia Over Maduro Support, Bolton Says
Trump Team to Confront Russia Over Maduro Support, Bolton Says
“From here on out, if Maduro is to rule, it will be by fear and oppression, because he has no credibility remaining,” said AS/COA's Eric Farnsworth to Bloomberg.
The Trump administration remains confident that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will soon lose power, despite opposition leaders’ failure so far to topple him, as the U.S. pressures Russia and Cuba over their support for the regime.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has a call scheduled with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Wednesday, National Security Advisor John Bolton told CNN. Bolton later told reporters that the National Security Council principals are meeting at 2 p.m. in Washington and the U.S. is “considering a lot of steps” that may involve additional sanctions on Russia or Cuba...
Earlier Tuesday, Guaido seemed to gain momentum after troops who had shifted their loyalty released an ally, Leopoldo Lopez, from house arrest. Maduro’s employment of “colectivo” pro-grovernment militia and guards that the U.S. charged were Cuban operatives could undermine what popular support he still retains.
Lopez, however, later sought the Chilean ambassador’s protection, before leaving the residence and heading to the Spanish embassy.
“From here on out, if Maduro is to rule, it will be by fear and oppression, because he has no credibility remaining,” said Eric Farnsworth, vice president at the Council of the Americas...
