Mike Pompeo spoke about the presence of the Russian army in Venezuela: "The United States has prepared their answers"

The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike PompeoHe said on Thursday that the 29 foreign ministers of NATO badessed at their meeting in Washington the presence of the Russian army in Venezuela.

"We are talking about Venezuela. President (Donald) Trump has clearly explained the position of the United States, they must leave. Yes, we talk about it"Pompeo explained at a press conference at the end of the meeting, held in Washington.

The Foreign Minister explained that the conversation about Venezuela it was part of a larger debate on the activity of Russia in several countries, including Georgia, Ukraine and Syria.

"We talked about it (Venezuela) in the context of Russia's efforts around the world, its efforts in Ukraine, the malignant activity of Russia in Syria, we talked about it in Venezuela, They have done in the sea of ​​Azov, in these cases we are doing our best to meet them, "he said.

"In the case of Venezuela, the United States has prepared its responses", warned Pompeo.

At the end of March, Russia sent to Venezuela two planes with a hundred soldiers commanded by Major General Vasili Tonkoshkurov, Chief of Staff of the Russian Army.

Russia, faithful ally of Nicolás Maduro's regime, defended that its cooperation with Caracas was part of an agreement ratified in 2001 by both countries and rejected "destructive interference"from other nations in the internal affairs of the country of Latin America.

Venezuela is the biggest arms buyer of Russia in Latin America and in the past, it has received from its partners tanks, Su-30MK2 multifunction fighters, Mi combat helicopters and missile defense and anti-aircraft systems.

NATO held a meeting of its foreign ministers in Washington, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the organization.

The Alliance considers that, in recent years, Russia has tried to extend its power beyond its borders, for example with the annexation in 2014 of the Crimean Peninsula, which Ukraine claims as its own; as well as the 2008 war with Georgia, when Moscow recognized the self-proclaimed independence of two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In this Thursday's session, Allies approved a package of measures to increase their presence in the Black Sea, which has become a new point of friction with Russia.

(With EFE information)