The United States declared itself ready to use "all options," a veiled threat that military force is in the cards, to defend the legitimacy of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Guiado two days ago unilaterally declared himself interim president of his country torn apart by inhuman economic hardship and political turmoil. On Wednesday, president Donald Trump said the U.S. will do whatever it takes to stabilize the situation in Venezuela.
"All options (are) on the table," said Trump when asked if he might use military force to ensure the downfall of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. "All options, always, all options are on the table," repeated Trump.
Trump on Wednesday recognized Guaido as acting president of Venezuela. He also declared the National Assembly that opposes Maduro as "the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people."
The United Kingdom declared that Maduro is "not the legitimate leader of Venezuela" and is backing Guaido instead.
On the other hand, the Venezuelan Supreme Court and armed forces both support Maduro.
It is unclear exactly what military options the U.S. will exercise, but this threat harkens back to America's military invasion that ousted Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega in December 1989. Noriega, a former operative for the CIA, ruled Panama from 1983 to 1989 before running afoul of the U.S.
U.S. National Security Adviser Bolton said Thursday the administration is concentrating on disconnecting the Maduro regime from its sources of revenue. Venezuela derives some 90% of its revenues from crude oil production and exports.
"We think consistent with our recognition of Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela that those revenues should go to the legitimate government," said Bolton. "It's very complicated. We're looking at a lot of different things we have to do but that's in progress."
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday urged all members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to support Guaido. He slammed Maduro's regime as "now defunct" and "illegitimate."
"We call on the OAS and all its member states to act on basic, decent democratic principles and the incontrovertible facts on the ground," said Pompeo.
"His (Maduro's) regime is morally bankrupt, it's economically incompetent and it is profoundly corrupt. It is undemocratic to the core."
The brash Guaido, who is only 35 years-old, swore himself into office as interim President and declared that Maduro has been deposed.
The European Union (EU) and several Latin American countries have declared their support for Guaido. On the other hand, China, Russia and Turkey are supporting Maduro, as is Cuba and Bolivia with its leftist president. The Venezuelan armed forces have since declared for Maduro, which complicates the military equation significantly.
Maduro criticized Trump for wanting "to install a de facto unconstitutional government" in the country.
"There is no doubt that it is Donald Trump, with his craziness, who thinks he can police the world: who thinks he has more power than anyone in Latin America and the Caribbean," said Maduro, a former truck driver.
