US warns Maduro regime: "We are not playing, let's not put President Trump to the test"

Elliott Abrams, the United States' special representative for Venezuela, claimed that it was not "a joke" or "something symbolic", the warning that the White House has repeatedly said that "all options are on the table" to achieve this. conclude the Nicolás Maduro regime. "They should not test the Donald Trump government"he warned.

"My advice to Venezuelans who think that all the options on the table are a joke or just a symbolism, is that they're not testing the president about it," he said at the time. An interview with the network. BBC

As an example, he cited the case of dictator Manuel Noriega in Panama, who "never believed that an invasion would occur in this country and ended up being held in federal prison " the United States. "The Maduro regime thinks the Trump administration is playing by saying that all options are on the table, including the army, we are not playing, Maduro," he said.

On the other hand, at a press conference held in Washington on Friday, Abrams spoke of the recent arrival of Russian troops in Venezuela: "We have several options, it would be a mistake for the Russians to think that they have the free path there."

In the same line, John BoltonTrump's national security adviser insisted Friday to denounce Russia's sending of personnel and military equipment to Venezuela and warned the Kremlin that the White House considered these "acts of provocation a direct threat" .

"We will continue to view this type of provocative action as a direct threat to international peace and security in the region," he said. Bolton In a statement in which he further badured that the United States will "defend and protect" their interests on the American continent.

Therefore, the advisor warned "vehemently" against any "external actor" against the deployment of "military badets" in Venezuela or in any other region of the continent.

"The administration condemns the continued use by Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro, of foreign military in order to remain in power," the statement added.

Bolton He accused Maduro of having used the Russian armed forces to seek support as part of his policy of "repressing" the Venezuelan people, perpetuating the economic crisis in the country and endangering "stability." regional ".

"We call on the Venezuelan army to respect its constitutional obligation to protect the citizens of Venezuela," the consultant concluded.

The statement was released two days after President Trump had taken advantage of a surprise meeting with Fabiana Rosales, wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, whom he acknowledged as president, to declare that "Russia must leave" this Caribbean country.

Last weekend, soldiers commanded by Major General Vasili Tonkoshkurov, Chief of Staff of the Russian Army, landed at Maiquetía International Airport, Venezuela's main airport. on board two military planes.

Russia is one of President Maduro's most important allies, which he publicly supports in the face of Guaidó's challenge, whose interim government is recognized by more than 50 countries as the only legitimate country.

The Maduro government generally refers to Russia, which provides it with weapons, technologies and other resources, as a "strategic ally" of its multilateral policy.

(With information from EFE)