Diplomatic actions by countries that support democracy are what General Laura J Richardson, head of the United States Southern Command, is proposing for Venezuela at a time when the political crisis in the South American nation has worsened due to the exile of former opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.
The head of the Southern Command, a US military unit responsible for security and defense issues in Latin America and the Caribbean, said that the situation in Venezuela “has a very severe impact on the region” due to the massive influx of people who have left the country to “avoid a humanitarian crisis.”
In response to a question from the Voice of America Asked about how prepared the United States is for the eventuality that President Nicolás Maduro remains in power for six more years after declaring himself the winner of the elections without revealing the voting records, General Richardson said: “We will continue working, all of us, as part of the pro-democracy team around the world in favor of a political and diplomatic solution for Venezuela.”
The U.S. official spoke to reporters during a tribute organized by the Colombian embassy in Washington, where she highlighted the historic joint work between the United States and Colombia in matters of security and defense.
General Richardson considers Colombia to be part of the “democracy team.” As far as Venezuela is concerned, the Colombian Foreign Ministry has insisted on a “dialogue to build an agreement that ensures political peace” in Venezuela, but has not recognized Edmundo González as the winner of the elections in Venezuela, as the United States did.
On Thursday, the European Union went further and recognized González as the legitimate and democratically elected president of Venezuela.
The EU’s statement was rejected by the Venezuelan National Assembly. In a document, it described the EU’s position as a “gross interference in the internal affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”
Following the outcome of the elections in Venezuela, the United States has accompanied diplomatic pressure with sanctions against 16 allies of Maduro whom it considers helped “obstruct the presidential electoral process.”
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and the newsletter. Activate notifications and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Add Comment