US President Donald Trump has said that the US could launch a second military strike on Venezuela if the remaining members of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government do not cooperate with US efforts to “fix” the country, even after his arrest.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump’s remarks have raised concerns about further US military intervention in Latin America, as he hinted that Colombia and Mexico could face military action if they fail to reduce illegal drug shipments to the US.
He also said that Venezuela’s close ally Cuba appears “ready to fall” without US military action.
Top officials in the Maduro government are still in power and have called the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, a “kidnapping.”
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said in an audio message released by the ruling socialist party PSUV that there is only one president, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros, and that no one should be provoked by the enemy.
Maduro, blindfolded and handcuffed, have shocked the Venezuelan people. The operation is being described as the most controversial US intervention in Latin America since the US invasion of Panama 37 years ago.
Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino said on state TV that military personnel, civilians and a large part of Maduro’s security team were killed in cold blood in the US attack.
He said that the Venezuelan armed forces have launched operations to protect the country’s sovereignty.
The Cuban government also claimed that 32 of its citizens were killed in the attack.
With the support of Venezuela’s Supreme Court, Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez has taken over as interim president, but she says that Maduro remains the country’s president.
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