Turkey is failing to heed US requests to halt its support for Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Latin American nation has warned.
Elliott Abrams told reporters on Thursday that the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, was “strongly supporting the Maduro regime” and that US officials had “not had the cooperation from Turkey that we want”.
Elliot AbramsTurkey pledges support for Venezuela, U.S. mulls secondary sanctions
Abrams, Trump’s special envoy to Venezuela, told reporters on Thursday he had asked Turkey to stop cooperating with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.The envoy criticised Turkey for its “strong support” of Maduro, which includes investment in the Latin American country and involvement in its gold trade, raising suspicions the Turkish government is helping Caracas evade U.S. sanctions.For its part, the Turkish government has condemned U.S. support for Juan Guaidó, an opposition leader who declared himself interim president earlier this year.“Turkey, like many countries, recognizes Maduro Government, which came to power through elections, as the legitimate government of the country in accordance with international law and as represented in the UN,” Aksoy’s statement said.
Turkey’s foreign minister on Monday reiterated support for Venezuela and its elected leadership.“Turkey will continue to support Venezuela, as problems there could affect all of Latin America and even the Caribbean,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference alongside his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza in Ankara, Turkey's capital.
Mevlut Cavusoglu & Jorge Arreaza
Arreaza said that Turkey has shown an exemplary friendship to Venezuela during a difficult time.
India cuts back on Venezuelan Oil PurchasesI had hoped India wouldn't go along. Disappointing.March 12/19- India: Under US Pressure
The United States on Sunday appreciated India's efforts adding to Washington’s sanctions to restrict exports of Venezuelan oil in the global energy market. “I would say that we have had contacts with Indian companies and with the Government of India and that we have found there to be a very considerable amount of cooperation, which we are very happy to see,” Sputnik quoted US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams as saying.The statement comes after several Indian companies stopped importing oil from Venezuela after Washington urged oil refineries around the world to cut their dealings with Caracas or face sanctions themselves.
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