According to the US-based media outlet, Trump is looking to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to leave the country. During his upcoming speech, the US president is expected to reaffirm his support for the self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido and slam socialism as a scourge.
Earlier in the day, Trump and Colombian counterpart Ivan Duque Marquez conducted a bilateral meeting at the White House. At the meeting, the presidents promised to send a "tremendous" amount of humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
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"The United States and Colombia are committed to taking steps to resolve the ongoing democratic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela", the statement said Wednesday. "Both countries strongly support Interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaido, and call on all countries around the world to support peace and stability in the region by recognizing President Guaido".
"We want to work together to put an end to the brutal dictatorship that has been affecting the Venezuelan people", President Duque said at the meeting with the US president.
On 28 January, the United States announced the imposition of sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil and natural gas company PDVSA, blocking $7 billion in assets remaining under US jurisdiction. According to a forecast by the White House, the company will lose another $11 billion in oil supplies. In addition, Washington has introduced a ban on making deals with the company.
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Guaido, who proclaimed himself interim leader on 23 January, has been backed by the United States and a number of Latin American and European countries. Constitutionally elected Maduro has been supported by Russia and China, among others.
At the same time, the government of incumbent President Nicolas Maduro firmly opposes any aid from abroad, stressing that there is no humanitarian crisis in the country and pledging to prevent foreign intervention.
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In separate statements last week, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said the United States is moving quickly to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela's borders and expressed hope that the country’s military would allow the aid to be delivered. Bolton also underscored that the United States will continue to use "all tools" to cut off revenues benefiting Maduro.
Trump said in a recent interview with the CBS broadcaster that a US military intervention in Venezuela was "an option".
