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US, Brazilian Vice Presidents Talk Efforts to Oust Venezuela’s Maduro – Report

© Photo : Matthias SchraderUnited States Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany
United States Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany - Sputnik International
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Washington wants the former Brazilian defense attache to convince Venezuela’s top military ranks to betray Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to an anonymous White House official.

The US and Brazilian vice presidents met in Washington, DC, to discuss the pressure options that could be exerted on Venezuela in order to facilitate Maduro's exit from office, Reuters reported Monday.

US Vice President Mike Pence reportedly hosted his Brazilian counterpart Hamilton Mourao in the White House in an attempt to use the former general's experience and influence to persuade Venezuela's military leadership to abandon their loyalty to Maduro, an unnamed White House official told Reuters.

Mourao, who was a Brazilian defenсe attache in Caracas during his service in the military, "has a very unique perspective" from which to communicate with Venezuela's top ranking officers, the official said.

"He speaks with a unique credibility from within the region as a senior political leader with a military background. That voice is very important, and he is using that voice to advance the cause," the source said.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during a discussion on US-Brazil relations at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC on March 18, 2019. - Sputnik International
Brazil's President Bolsonaro Says Venezuela Can Not Stay As It Is - Report
The official also noted that Mourao is in a good position to confront Russia and China, who support the legitimate president Maduro, since Brazil is a part of BRICS group of the world's largest emerging market economies. The group is named after first letters of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The US seeks to win the support of other countries — like Brazil — to isolate Venezuela, the official said.

The United States has recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the "interim president" of Venezuela and provided him with support in his effort to oust Maduro. Despite US-imposed sanctions and Guaido's best efforts toward sparking a coup, Maduro remains in power and enjoys the support of the country's armed forces.

The Washington-imposed sanctions aim to curb Venezuela's oil exports, which generate the vast majority of the nation's wealth. Venezuela is struggling with a tough social and economic crisis due to numerous infrastructure failures, which Caracas blames on sabotage by the opposition and agents of Washington.

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