{"id":182676,"date":"2019-01-25T07:03:53","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T07:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=182676"},"modified":"2019-01-27T07:51:41","modified_gmt":"2019-01-27T07:51:41","slug":"russia-warns-u-s-against-military-intervention-in-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=182676","title":{"rendered":"Russia warns U.S. against military intervention in Venezuela"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Reuters \u2013 Jan 24, 2019<\/h1>\n
\"Youthful<\/a>

Youthful and photogenic, like a younger Obama, Juan Guaido, 35 was an obvious pick for the Western powers to do their bidding. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

MOSCOW \u2014 Russia warned the U.S. on Thursday not to intervene militarily in Venezuela, saying such a move would trigger a catastrophe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president on Wednesday, winning the backing of Washington and prompting socialist incumbent Nicolas Maduro to sever diplomatic relations with the United States<\/a><\/strong><\/span>. Violence flared during big protests across Venezuela, and at least seven deaths were reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an interview with Russian journal International Affairs published on Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow would stand with Venezuela to protect its sovereignty and the principle of non-interference in its domestic affairs<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked about the prospect of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, Ryabkov said Washington should steer well clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We warn against that,” he said. “We consider that would be a catastrophic scenario that would shake the foundations of the development model which we see in Latin America.”<\/span><\/p>\n

President Donald Trump has promised to use the “full weight” of U.S. economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration of Venezuela’s democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The prospect of Maduro being ousted is a geopolitical and economic headache for Moscow which, alongside China, has become a lender of last resort for Caracas, lending it billions of dollars as its economy implodes. Millions of people have fled the country in recent years to escape sky-high inflation and food shortages.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryabkov did not mention Maduro by name, but made clear Moscow backed his government.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Venezuela is friendly to us and is our strategic partner,” he said. “We have supported them and will support them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tu-160<\/a>

Tu-160 in Venezuela. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

Russia has also provided military support to Maduro, who has led the oil-rich nation since 2013<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two Russian strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons landed in Venezuela last month<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in a show of a support that infuriated Washington<\/span><\/p>\n

Maduro visited Moscow in December, seeking Russia’s political and financial support.<\/span><\/p>\n

China also called on the U.S. to stay out of Venezuela’s political crisis and said it opposes all outside intervention there. Over the last decade, China has given Venezuela $65 billion in loans, cash and investment. Venezuela owes more than $20 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Iran described the opposition’s claim there that it holds the presidency as a “coup” and an attempt to take over power unlawfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Supporting Juan Guaido as interim president
??USA
??Canada
??Brazil
??Paraguay
??Colombia
??Peru
??Ecador
??Costa Rica
??Argentina
??Chile
??Guatemala
??Kosovo
??Honduras<\/p>\n

Supporting current President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro
??Mexico
??Cuba
??Bolivia
??Turkey
??Russia
??Syria#Venezuela<\/a><\/p>\n

— Conflict News (@Conflicts) January 24, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n