Duke agrees with Pence to continue pushing Maduro, but rejects the military road

The Colombian presidential candidate, Ivan Duque, speaks at an academic forum today, Friday, March 23, 2018, at Columbia University in New York (United States ). EFE / Eduardo Muñoz Álvarez

The elected President of Colombia, the uribista Iván Duque today agreed with US Vice President, Mike Pence, to continue to urging the Venezuelan government, but badured that he does not support a military intervention in this country, one of the options that Washington keeps on the table

after a meeting with Pence at the White House, Duque also badured that he received a [grand soutien] from the US Vice President to his proposals on security and the fight against drug trafficking, despite Washington's concerns regarding the record increase in coca cultivation in Colombia in 2017.

"We talked about the situation in Colombia, our security program, we also talk about the situation facing the Venezuelan dictatorship on the continent," Duque told reporters.

For his part, Pence said in a tweet that he had with Duque on "the strategic alliance" bilateral "in the fight against drug trafficking", and that had "reiterated the need to maintain the pressure on the regime of (Venezuelan President, Nicolás) Maduro ] To deal with the tragic collapse of democracy in Venezuela."

Duque said that he and Pence share "the concern for this dictatorship, and the desire to denounce the abuses of this dictatorship."

take clear attitudes ", claimed Duque, who reiterated his wish that the Colombia "withdraws from Unasur (Union of South American Nations)" for having been "consueta" of the government of Maduro .] "We must also continue to establish a defense program for the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and I believe we have an identity complete with the United States Government. "

Duque badured that he was not talking with Pence about a possible military path to Venezuela, after the White House confirmed to Efe today. that US President Donald Trump asked his team last year for an invasion of the Caribbean country and, although he never planned it seriously, he dismissed this option

"First, there was no question of military intervention, and secondly, I have never spoken of military interventions or military provocations" said Duque at this subject. 19659004] "I believe that we must first act with all the strength of the countries that support the inter-American charter, to exert diplomatic pressure on the dictatorship, and also to support the efforts of the Secretary-General (of the United Nations). OEA), Luis) Almagro to denounce the abuses of this dictatorship before the international penal system ", he added.

On the other hand, Mr. Duque did not want to specify where he had received guarantees from He believes that Trump will not fulfill his threat of including Colombia on a list black countries that have not respected their international commitments against drug trafficking, due to the increase in coca cultivation and potential cocaine production in the country.

] "I believe that the support of the United States, the cooperation of the United States, will help us to succeed in finding the security of the territory, to face drug cartels, and that we will quickly dismantle the criminal structures that function in the country " limiting itself to indicate Duque.

The politician of the Uribe Democratic Center (right) pointed out that he had invited Pence to his inauguration on August 7 and trusted that "USA." In a statement, the White House said that Pence and Duque "committed themselves to act decisively to combat drug production and drug trafficking" and spoke about the implementation of the peace agreement with the FARC, bilateral economic ties and "measures against illegal immigration to the southern border of the United States" EFE