Canada’s own Chrystia Freeland was involved. Of course.
PressTV The political crisis which came to a head in Venezuela this week followed "weeks of secret diplomacy," including a visit last month to the United States, Colombia and Brazil by opposition leader Juan Guaido. Guaido declared himself the interim president earlier this week and won immediate recognition from the US, in a move denounced by President Nicolas Maduro and a number of countries as a coup.
During a televised speech in Caracas on Friday, Maduro accused the self-declared president of working on behalf of the United States, calling him "an agent of the 'gringos' in Venezuela.""They trained him as an agent and they put him in politics. He is an agent of the government of the United States, he knows and will receive and will fulfill orders from them," said Maduro.According to the Associated Press, Guaido quietly traveled to Washington, Colombia and Brazil in mid-December to brief officials on his plans to provoke unrest to coincide with Maduro’s swearing-in for a second term on January 1.Playing a key role behind the scenes was Canada, whose Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke to Guaido the night before the swearing-in ceremony to offer support should he confront Maduro, AP reported.
At least 20 people have lost their lives in the unrest, but the planned "coup" hit the wall after the army rallied behind Maduro and countries like Russia, China, Turkey and Iran denounced outside interference. A senior Canadian official told the news agency that the decision to confront President Maduro directly was only possible because of the strong support from the Trump administration.“Trump has personally sparked a lot of this,” Fernando Cutz, a former senior national security adviser on Latin America to US presidents Barack Obama and Trump, told AP.“Literally in every interaction that he has had with Latin American leaders since taking office, he brings up Venezuela. That has forced a lot of hands,” Cutz said. President Trump said in August last year that a “military option” was on the table to deal with the ongoing Venezuelan crisis.Two drones packed with explosives reportedly flew toward Maduro in August in what the government has described as a failed assassination attempt.
On Saturday, Russia, China, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea blocked a US push for a UN Security Council statement expressing full support for Guaido even as he has not run in any presidential race.
Pompeo the Pompous
In a speech at the UN Security Council, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the world countries to "pick a side" on Venezuela and urged them to back Guaido."Now, it is time for every other nation to pick a side. No more delays, no more games. Either you stand with the forces of freedom, or you're in league with Maduro and his mayhem," Pompeo told the 15-member council.
Bolton: Super Hawk
US national security adviser John Bolton, who is known for his hawkish views, said on Thursday that Washington is making every attempt to cut Venezuela’s revenue streams, and make sure the oil revenue goes to the opposition leader."We think consistent with our recognition of Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela that those revenues should go to the legitimate government,” he added.
Col. Silva: Traitor to Venezuela. Undoubtedly, well fundedIn a video, filmed at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, Col Silva called for free elections and urged his "brothers in the armed forces of the nation to recognise President Juan Guaidó as the only legitimate president"."The armed forces have a fundamental role in the restoration of the democracy in our country. Please, brothers, do not attack our people," he said.
Later, he told Reuters news agency that two other Venezuelan consular officials in the US also recognised Mr Guaidó as leader.
Bank of England Refuse to Return US$1.2B Venezuelan Gold
The head of Venezuela's central bank Calixto Ortega, traveled to London in mid-December to seek access to the nation's assets, admitting defeat this week after U.S. officials asserted pressure on their British counterparts, to prevent the release of US$1.2 billion in gold.
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