Peace is possible in Venezuela says Pence
- 7 years ago
A peaceful solution to the violent unrest engulfing Venezuela is possible, Mike Pence has said.
The US Vice-President was speaking alongside Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos in the city of Cartagena, Pence’s comments came off the back of President’s Trump’s surprise comments on Friday that military intervention in Venezuela was an option. That brought condemnation from Peru, Mexico and Colombia, usually some of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s toughest critics.
Urging Trump to rule out such an option, Colombia’s President Manuel Santos said: “The Latin American continent, every country in Latin America, would not favor any form of military intervention in Venezuela[...] but any democratic transition of the Venezuelan regime must be a peaceful one.”
The visit by Pence kicks off a tour of the region.
“The United States, Colombia and free nations of Latin America will not be silent. Venezuela is sliding into dictatorship and as President Trump has said, the United States will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles,” Pence said.
Earlier Venezuela’s communication minister tweeted plans for an anti-imperialist march against the US.
More than 120 people have been killed in violent protests in Venezuela since April.
Despite the on-going unrest in the crisis hit country, there are fears Trump’s recent threat of possible military intervention may have bolstered President Nicolas Maduro’s giving the embattled leader a political lifeline.
The US Vice-President was speaking alongside Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos in the city of Cartagena, Pence’s comments came off the back of President’s Trump’s surprise comments on Friday that military intervention in Venezuela was an option. That brought condemnation from Peru, Mexico and Colombia, usually some of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s toughest critics.
Urging Trump to rule out such an option, Colombia’s President Manuel Santos said: “The Latin American continent, every country in Latin America, would not favor any form of military intervention in Venezuela[...] but any democratic transition of the Venezuelan regime must be a peaceful one.”
The visit by Pence kicks off a tour of the region.
“The United States, Colombia and free nations of Latin America will not be silent. Venezuela is sliding into dictatorship and as President Trump has said, the United States will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles,” Pence said.
Earlier Venezuela’s communication minister tweeted plans for an anti-imperialist march against the US.
More than 120 people have been killed in violent protests in Venezuela since April.
Despite the on-going unrest in the crisis hit country, there are fears Trump’s recent threat of possible military intervention may have bolstered President Nicolas Maduro’s giving the embattled leader a political lifeline.