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President Donald Trump said the deployment of the US military in Venezuela was "an option".
"Well, I do not mean that, but it's definitely an option," Trump said Sunday at the CBS's Face the Nation show, when he was asked about it. He would use American forces during the Venezuelan crisis.
The United States has recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself acting president on January 23, and is leading an international campaign to oust Nicolas Maduro from office.
Trump also said that Maduro had asked to meet him "several months ago", but that he had refused.
"I decided at the time" no "because so many really horrible things were happening in Venezuela," he said, citing "poverty, anguish and crime" in a country formerly among the richest in Latin America.
Trump again praised Guaido as "a young and energetic gentleman ".
"IIf you talk about democracy, it's really democracy in action … I think the process is going on – very, very big, great demonstrations. "
Four major European nations – Britain, France, Germany and Spain – have declared that they will recognize Guaido unless Maduro convenes new presidential elections before Sunday at midnight.
Trump has warned repeatedly "all options are on the table" in Venezuela, as his administration is stepping up pressure on Maduro through economic sanctions and appeals to the country's armed forces for them change allegiance.
The United States, Canada and several Latin American countries have repudiated Maduro for controversial reelection last year and have also recognized Guaido as interim president.
Maduro, however, maintains the strong support of Russia, China and Turkey. The Russian Foreign Minister said on Sunday that Western interference was causing Venezuelan unrest and punishing millions of people.
"Venezuela has reached a point of no return," said political badyst Marco Terugi in Al Jazeera. "We now have a democratically elected government and a parallel government controlled and led by the United States."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that the international community should focus on helping to solve Venezuela's economic and social problems and refrain from "destructive" interference.
"The goal of the international community should be to help without destructive interference from outside the borders," said Alexander Shchetinin, head of the department's Latin American department, quoted by the agency as saying. Interfax press release.
Global Voices reporter Robert Valencia has said that global geopolitics could grow, pointing out that Russia has deployed two nuclear-capable bombers the Latin American nation in December – a move that angered the United States.
"I think we're talking about a new standoff between two current powers in the world – the US and Russia.We see something that has happened in Syria and that could now be transferred in Venezuela … it will be a new struggle for the balance of power, "he said.
At a crossroad
Tens of thousands of people invaded the streets of various Venezuelan cities on Saturday to protest against his government, and a senior air force official recognized Guaido.
The Trump administration announced last week crippling sanctions that could further weaken the country's oil industry, which is by far Venezuela's largest source of revenue.
While this may weaken Maduro, it also risks exacerbating Venezuela's economic collapse.
Venezuela suffers from shortages of medicines, malnutrition and hyperinflation that have driven millions of people to emigrate in recent years.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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