The leader of US Southern Command said the army was ready to protect diplomats in Venezuela

United States armed forces are ready to protect your staff and your diplomatic facilities in Venezuela if necessarysaid the admiral responsible for US forces in South America Thursday.

"We are willing to protect American personnel and diplomatic facilities if necessary"says the admiral of the navy Craig Faller, Chief of the Southern Command of the United Statesat a hearing before the Armed Forces Committee of the Senate.

The Admiral did not provide details on how the US Army could react.

Faller also said that Venezuela has about 2,000 generals and most of them are loyal to Maduro because of the wealth accumulated by drug trafficking, oil revenues and other activities. However, He noted that ordinary soldiers are hungry "just like the population".

"The legitimate government of President Guaidó has offered amnesty and place for military forces, most of which one might think would faithful to the Constitution, not a dictator"he said.

The crisis in Venezuela caused by Nicolás Maduro, which plunged the country into poverty and led to the flight of some 3 million Venezuelans, forced nations around the world to take a stand, especially after the opposition leader. Juan Guaido He was declared interim president last month.

The main nations of the European Union have partnered with the United States, Canada and several Latin American countries to recognize the President of the National Assembly, Guaidó, as a legitimate ruler by interim of the country of South America.

(With information from Reuters)