The rhetorical escalation between Trump and Maduro increases the risk of civil war



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Nicolás Maduro does not rule out the possibility that the Venezuelan crisis ends with a civil war. In an interview with Spanish journalist Jordi Evole Sunday (3) on television La Sexta, the dictator also said that President Donald Trump would leave the White House "stained with blood" if the United States interfered in the country.

"No one can say for sure an answer to this question," he said about the risk of armed conflict. "It all depends on the level of madness and aggressiveness of the northern empire and its western allies."

Maduro's actions seem to confirm that his regime is even preparing for a war – or at least trying to show its strength to the opposition and the world. Last week, he announced the creation of 50,000 defense units in all areas of Venezuela, in addition to the "comprehensive defense work developed by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB)." According to Maduro, these militias have access to the FANB weapons system and have undergone military training.

"In local, regional or national conflict, people know where to go, know what to do, know how to defend themselves," Maduro told Evolis.

Maduro's remarks come the same day that Trump repeated that the use of military force remained an option for Venezuela. Interviewed during an interview with US channel CBS about what would lead him to turn to the military, the president said he would not answer. "But it's certainly an option," he acknowledged.

See also: The United States Government wants to dry up a source of Maduro dollars. And it affects the price of oil

Maduro, commenting on Trump's position, said the US president made mistakes "that will stain their hands with blood and leave the presidency stained with blood." Will we respect or repeat Vietnam in Latin America? ", alluding to the war in which the United States sent thousands of soldiers to help fight communist forces in Vietnam, but which proved costly, unsuccessfully and with thousands of people. dead.

Maduro rejected the ultimatum of European countries to convene new free presidential elections, paving the way for further pressure against his government. "I do not accept the ultimatum of anyone," said the chavist leader during his Sunday interview.

If not, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Latvia recognized Juan Guaidó as interim president of the country, as did the United States, Brazil and several other countries.

In the interview with Evole, Maduro said that he would not give the "arm of encouragement by cowardice in the face of pressure".

"Why does the European Union have to tell a country in the world that has already held elections to repeat its presidential elections, why have not they been defeated by their right wing allies? "

Despite this, Maduro did not forcefully dismiss the appeal of a new trial. Évole urged him to do so, but continued to get the same answer: "presidential elections have already taken place on May 20", "we have complied with the constitution".

"In this way, it seems that this leaves the door open for new elections," said the reporter. Maduro replied that "the door is open to dialogue, understanding, respect for the independence of Venezuela, and there are a thousand formulas for this understanding".

In contrast, the dictator welcomed the initiative of the European Union to create an "international contact group" to deal with the crisis in Venezuela, which will meet for the first time on Thursday ( 7) in Montevideo. The group comprises the EU and eight of its member countries – France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom – as well as the countries of Latin America such as Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay.

Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaidó, exerted even more pressure on the Maduro regime by confirming it. , who called for humanitarian aid to the European Union and the protection of Venezuelan badets deposited on the continent, while the United States "is mobilizing and already carrying aid" in the country.

Guaidó announced that humanitarian aid should begin to arrive this week. According to him, a "national and international coalition" will be created with three drug and food storage centers: in Colombia, in the city of Cucuta, in Brazil and on a Caribbean island. The opposition on Sunday urged the army to perform its duty and let the aid enter the country.

Read more: Maduro regime hunts foreign journalists in Venezuela

Faced with this, dictator Chavez called for loyalty to the armed forces, justifying the measure allowing a foreign invasion . On Sunday, NADB officials and members of the National Guard traveled to Tachira on the border with Colombia to oversee the border posts.

"We are on the Simón Bolívar international bridge to ensure the defense of the country, a total peace here," wrote on his Twitter account, General Freddy Bernal. The Simón Bolívar bridge connects San Antonio del Táchira to Venezuela in Cúcuta, Colombia.

Among the options being studied by the United States to deal with the collapse of Venezuela is the opening of a corridor for the dispatch of humanitarian aid. Washington said it had $ 20 million to send food and medicine. White House National Security Secretary John Bolton has published photos of boxes of food and medicine already packaged and ready for shipment to Venezuela.

Tens of thousands of people are protesting against the Maduro regime

The idea of ​​opening a channel or humanitarian corridor was supported by the National Assembly. opposition from Venezuela and by 14 countries that integrate it. the Lima group in different versions. But Chavismo sees this action as a bridge for foreign forces interested in military intervention. The Maduro government attributes the shortage of food and medicine to the sanctions imposed by the United States.

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