Russia: US military intervention in Venezuela would be 'catastrophic scenario'
By: John Bowden - The HILL / 1-24-19
RE:
https://thehill.com/policy/internati...e-catastrophic
The Russian government warned the Trump administration Thursday against military intervention in Venezuela, where opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in an attempt to oust the country's President Nicholas Maduro.
Reuters reports that a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson warned of "catastrophic" consequences if the Trump administration were to send military assistance to Guaido to aid his bid to oust the socialist president.
“We warn against such adventurism which is fraught with catastrophic consequences,” the foreign ministry said.
A Kremlin spokesman weighed in as well, according to the news service, accusing President Trump and his team of trying to undermine Venezuela's legitimate government.
“We consider the attempt to usurp sovereign authority in Venezuela to contradict and violate the basis and principles of international law,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reportedly said.
Trump and the U.S. formally recognized Guaido on Wednesday, shortly after the opposition leader declared himself to be the new temporary head of Venezuela's government. Other countries, including NATO ally Turkey, offered their support for Maduro's government.
“My brother Maduro! Stand tall, we stand by you!” wrote a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to Reuters.
The European Union, meanwhile, has called for a peaceful transition to Guaido's rule in a statement.
"The people of Venezuela have massively called for democracy and the possibility to freely determine their own destiny. These voices cannot be ignored,” the EU wrote in a statement.