US gave Venezuela’s Maduro chance to leave country, says Republican lawmaker
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Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has said he views the US military presence in the Caribbean as a precursor to regime change.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON - The United States has offered Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the chance to leave his country for Russia or elsewhere, a Republican senator said Nov 30, amid heightened fears of imminent US military action.
President Donald Trump sharply escalated his threats against Venezuela by warning on Nov 29 that the country’s airspace should be considered “closed,”
Though Mr Trump has not publicly threatened to use force against Mr Maduro, he said in recent days that efforts to halt Venezuelan drug trafficking “by land” would begin “very soon.”
Mr Maduro has said he views the US military presence in the Caribbean as a precursor to regime change.
“By the way, we gave Maduro an opportunity to leave. We said he could leave and go to Russia or he could go to another country,” Mr Markwayne Mullin, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN’s State of the Union talk show.
When asked whether Mr Trump was planning to attack Venezuela, the senator from Oklahoma said: “No, he’s made it very clear we’re not going to put troops into Venezuela. What we’re trying to do is protect our own shores.”
Since September, US air strikes have targeted alleged drug-trafficking boats
Washington claims the leftist Maduro heads an alleged drug cartel.
Mr Maduro “is an illegitimate leader who has been indicted for drug trafficking in US courts and maintains control of Venezuela by a reign of terror,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump supporter, said Nov 29 on X.
“President Trump’s strong commitment to end this madness in Venezuela will save countless American lives and will give the beautiful people of Venezuela a new lease on life. I hear Turkey and Iran are lovely this time of year…“
The steady US military buildup has seen the world’s largest aircraft carrier deployed to Caribbean waters, while American fighter jets and bombers have repeatedly flown off the Venezuelan coast in recent days.
The New York Times reported on Nov 28 that Mr Trump and Mr Maduro had discussed a possible meeting, while The Wall Street Journal said on Nov 29 that the conversation also included conditions of amnesty if Mr Maduro were to step down. AFP
