A senior Venezuelan official told Newsweek his country is prepared to either defend itself against ongoing U.S. hostility or begin talks with the eventual winner of Tuesday’s presidential election, no matter who ends up winning the vote.
By Newsweek – Tom O’Connor
Nov 03, 2020
As the United States prepared to choose between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the Venezuelan vice minister of foreign affairs for North America said that Caracas remained neutral in the race. But he said the leftist-led Latin American power did have an interest in what kind of strategy Washington would take under the next president.
“We will not comment on who should win. It is a sovereign decision that can only be made by the people of the United States,” Carlos Ron said.
“In more general terms, regardless of who is in the White House in January, our commitment to defending Venezuela’s sovereignty and peace remains intact, as well as our disposition to dialogue as long as there is mutual respect,” he added.
The Trump administration’s current strategy, however, is defined by a “maximum pressure” approach that saw the White House cut ties with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2019 and impose sweeping sanctions on his country’s suffering economy, which was already beset by financial crisis.
“Such respect does not exist right now,” Ron told Newsweek, “as the U.S. is actively attacking the Venezuelan people by implementing illegal and unilateral coercive measures which submit the people of Venezuela to a collective punishment which is forbidden by international law, with the purpose of forcing a change of government undermining the will of the Venezuelan people.”
He said that a diplomatic solution was best for both Washington and Caracas.
“What would be in the interest of both countries and their people is that U.S. government officials change their policy from one of aggression to a return to diplomacy,” Ron said.
Caracas’ embassy in Washington, represented by National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó’s team, declined Newsweek’s request for comment.
The self-proclaimed interim president who heads the opposition congress has struggled to oust Maduro. Even after more than 18 months of additional sanctions, threats, an abortive coup and a failed insurgent conspiracy involving two former U.S. Green Berets, the Venezuelan leader remains firmly in power, with the support of his country’s armed forces.
While Guaidó has been endorsed by the U.S. and its regional and international partners, Maduro is also backed by a number of countries, including Russia, China, Iran and Cuba, and retains recognition from other major powers, such as India, South Africa and Turkey, as well as the United Nations.
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Read More: Newsweek – Venezuela ready to defend itself or start dialogue, whether Trump or Biden wins election
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