Russia will do all possible to prevent <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-accuses-us-of-planning-to-arm-opposition-in-venezuela-199123">a US&nbsp;military intervention in Venezuela</a>, the TASS news agency quoted the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament as saying on Sunday.

"We are very much concerned that the USA could carry out any provocations to shed blood, to find a cause and reasons for an intervention in Venezuela," Valentina Matvienko told Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Moscow.

"But we will do all in order not to allow this," said Matvienko, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia will do all possible to prevent a US military intervention in Venezuela, the TASS news agency quoted the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament as saying on Sunday.

Russia will do all possible to prevent a US military intervention in Venezuela, the TASS news agency quoted the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament as saying on Sunday. "We are very much concerned that the USA could carry out any provocations to shed blood, to find a cause and reasons for an intervention in Venezuela," Valentina Matvienko told Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Moscow. "But we will do all in order not to allow this," said Matvienko, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia says it will prevent US military intervention in Venezuela: TASS

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-amid-us-sanctions-russia-pledges-new-relief-to-maduro-government-200602">Russia is ready to take part</a> in bilateral talks with the United States over the issue of Venezuela, Russia's foreign minister told his US counterpart late on Saturday.

The situation in Venezuela was the main topic in a phone call between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that took place on March 2, Russia's foreign ministry said on its website.

"In connection with Washington's proposal to hold bilateral consultations on the Venezuelan topic, it was stated that Russia is ready to participate in this," the ministry said in a statement.

It was "vital to be strictly guided by the principles of the UN Charter since only the Venezuelan people have the right to determine their future," the statement said.

Russia and the United States have been at loggerheads over a US-led campaign for international recognition of Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who declared himself the interim head of state, over President Nicholas Maduro.

In the phone call, initiated by the United States, Lavrov condemned the threats that Washington made towards "the country's lawful leadership," the ministry said, referring to Maduro.

Earlier this month, the United States imposed new sanctions on six Venezuelan security officials and revoked the visas of dozens of associates and their families with ties to Maduro, in the latest move to pile pressure on him to step down.

Lavrov and Pompeo also agreed to continue talks on the expert level regarding Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean peninsula.

Russia is ready to take part in bilateral talks with the United States over the issue of Venezuela, Russia's foreign minister told his US counterpart late on Saturday.

Russia is ready to take part in bilateral talks with the United States over the issue of Venezuela, Russia's foreign minister told his US counterpart late on Saturday. The situation in Venezuela was the main topic in a phone call between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that took place on March 2, Russia's foreign ministry said on its website. "In connection with Washington's proposal to hold bilateral consultations on the Venezuelan topic, it was stated that Russia is ready to participate in this," the ministry said in a statement. It was "vital to be strictly guided by the principles of the UN Charter since only the Venezuelan people have the right to determine their future," the statement said. Russia and the United States have been at loggerheads over a US-led campaign for international recognition of Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who declared himself the interim head of state, over President Nicholas Maduro. In the phone call, initiated by the United States, Lavrov condemned the threats that Washington made towards "the country's lawful leadership," the ministry said, referring to Maduro. Earlier this month, the United States imposed new sanctions on six Venezuelan security officials and revoked the visas of dozens of associates and their families with ties to Maduro, in the latest move to pile pressure on him to step down. Lavrov and Pompeo also agreed to continue talks on the expert level regarding Syria, Afghanistan and the Korean peninsula.

Russia tells US it is ready for bilateral talks on Venezuela

The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on six <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-china-veto-us-push-for-fresh-election-in-venezuela-200376">Venezuelan security officials</a> for obstructing aid that Washington had tried to force in as part of its effort to support the country's opposition leader against President Nicolas Maduro.&nbsp;

"We are sanctioning members of Maduro's security forces in response to the reprehensible<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-venezuela-border-bridge-remains-closed-amid-us-aid-standoff-200319"> violence, tragic deaths, and unconscionable</a> torching of food and medicine destined for sick and starving Venezuelans," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The six include Major General Richard Jesus Lopez Vargas, the commander of the Venezuelan National Guard, and Jesus Maria Mantilla Oliveros, commander of a unit tasked by Maduro with reinforcing security on the Brazilian border, the Treasury Department said.

The sanctions freeze any assets in the United States by the six security officials as well as US financial dealings with them.&nbsp;

The United States, backed by Colombia and Brazil, last weekend tried to push badly needed aid into the crisis-torn country in coordination with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as interim president.

Venezuelan forces blocked the operation, fearing it was a precursor to an invasion as President Donald Trump has not ruled out the use of force to depose Maduro.

Four people were killed in the ensuing melee and Guaido was stuck outside Venezuela, although he has vowed to return.

"The United States strongly supports the efforts of Interim President Juan Guaido, and Treasury will continue to target Maduro loyalists prolonging the suffering of the victims of this man-made humanitarian crisis," Mnuchin said.

Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a US and European-backed resolution at the United Nations that would have called for new presidential elections in Venezuela and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid.

The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on six Venezuelan security officials for obstructing aid that Washington had tried to force in as part of its effort to support the country's opposition leader against President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on six Venezuelan security officials for obstructing aid that Washington had tried to force in as part of its effort to support the country's opposition leader against President Nicolas Maduro. "We are sanctioning members of Maduro's security forces in response to the reprehensible violence, tragic deaths, and unconscionable torching of food and medicine destined for sick and starving Venezuelans," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. The six include Major General Richard Jesus Lopez Vargas, the commander of the Venezuelan National Guard, and Jesus Maria Mantilla Oliveros, commander of a unit tasked by Maduro with reinforcing security on the Brazilian border, the Treasury Department said. The sanctions freeze any assets in the United States by the six security officials as well as US financial dealings with them. The United States, backed by Colombia and Brazil, last weekend tried to push badly needed aid into the crisis-torn country in coordination with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as interim president. Venezuelan forces blocked the operation, fearing it was a precursor to an invasion as President Donald Trump has not ruled out the use of force to depose Maduro. Four people were killed in the ensuing melee and Guaido was stuck outside Venezuela, although he has vowed to return. "The United States strongly supports the efforts of Interim President Juan Guaido, and Treasury will continue to target Maduro loyalists prolonging the suffering of the victims of this man-made humanitarian crisis," Mnuchin said. Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a US and European-backed resolution at the United Nations that would have called for new presidential elections in Venezuela and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid.

US sanctions six Venezuelan security officials for obstructing aid

One of the three border bridges between Colombia and Venezuela, the Tienditas Bridge, has remained closed since it was built four years ago, amid the ongoing US aid standoff.

Some news media reported that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deliberately closed the Tienditas Bridge to prevent humanitarian aid from the US.

However, in an interview with China Central Television, a Colombian resident living on the common border said that the bridge has been closed since it was built four years ago, which proves that the closure of the bridge is not a deliberate move.

"The Tienditas Bridge was built four years ago for vehicle traffic. It has been closed for four years," said Rodrigez, the local resident.

The Columbian government has posed guards outside the bridge. Vehicles and pedestrians without permission are not allowed to enter the country.

The three bridges on the border are the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, the Francisco de Paula Santander Bridge and the Tienditas Bridge.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez announced last Friday the closure of the three bridges.

The move came after the United States and other countries in the region, in coordination with the Venezuelan opposition, declared their plan to deliver aid into Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government has refused to let the aid cross the border and called the aid operation a "US-orchestrated show" designed to lead to an eventual invasion.

&nbsp;

One of the three border bridges between Colombia and Venezuela, the Tienditas Bridge, has remained closed since it was built four years ago, amid the ongoing US aid standoff.

One of the three border bridges between Colombia and Venezuela, the Tienditas Bridge, has remained closed since it was built four years ago, amid the ongoing US aid standoff. Some news media reported that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deliberately closed the Tienditas Bridge to prevent humanitarian aid from the US. However, in an interview with China Central Television, a Colombian resident living on the common border said that the bridge has been closed since it was built four years ago, which proves that the closure of the bridge is not a deliberate move. "The Tienditas Bridge was built four years ago for vehicle traffic. It has been closed for four years," said Rodrigez, the local resident. The Columbian government has posed guards outside the bridge. Vehicles and pedestrians without permission are not allowed to enter the country. The three bridges on the border are the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, the Francisco de Paula Santander Bridge and the Tienditas Bridge. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez announced last Friday the closure of the three bridges. The move came after the United States and other countries in the region, in coordination with the Venezuelan opposition, declared their plan to deliver aid into Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has refused to let the aid cross the border and called the aid operation a "US-orchestrated show" designed to lead to an eventual invasion.

Colombia-Venezuela border bridge remains closed amid US aid standoff

John Bolton, US President Donald Trump`s national security adviser, shakes stars-and-stripes maracas as he dreams of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro behind bars in an orange prison suit.

"Guantanamero ... Maduro Guantanamero ...," Bolton sings in a caricature by Venezuelan cartoonist Fernando Pinilla - a play on both the well-known Cuban song, and the US military detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

A mounted copy of the cartoon from Miami newspaper Diario Las Americas has joined the trophy wall in Bolton`s West Wing office, which until now has been dominated by mementos associated with his signature foreign policy fight: Iran.

One cartoon features an ayatollah hearing about Trump`s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

The new addition is a sign of how Bolton`s hawkish focus has zeroed in on a new target - getting Maduro to leave Venezuela. It`s a battle he has waged on Twitter, where his acid-tongued trolling of the socialist leader has made him one of the Trump administration`s fiercest voices on the issue.

The United States has led an international effort to recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela, considering Maduro`s 2018 re-election a sham.

Since January, Bolton has fired off more than 130 withering missives directed at Maduro, accounting for three quarters of all his Twitter activity in that time and more than a third of all his tweets since Trump named him national security adviser in March 2018.

A spokesman for Bolton declined comment on the strategy.

Bolton, a veteran neoconservative who critics call a warmonger, has tweeted far more about Venezuela in his time as national security adviser than any other topic, including Iran (34 tweets) or the Middle East and Syria (29 tweets).

It was Bolton`s most viral Venezuela tweet that was the genesis for the cartoon that now graces his office.

"I wish Nicolas Maduro and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement, living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela," Bolton said, a zing that has since been retweeted 19,000 times and liked 39,000 times.

The next day, Bolton talked about the tweet with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, and added a threat: "The sooner he takes advantage of that, the sooner he`s likely to have a nice, quiet retirement on a pretty beach, rather than being in some other beach area like Guantanamo," Bolton said.

In Caracas, Pinilla heard about Bolton`s warning and was inspired.

"It was easy to imagine that it would be the soundtrack of that arrest, which is our dream," said Pinilla, who said he was surprised and honored when he learned from Reuters that his work was hanging on Bolton`s wall.&nbsp;

`I DREAM OF BOLTON`

Bolton`s war of words has rankled his targets.

Earlier this month, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza held up his phone at a United Nations press conference, brandishing a Bolton tweet warning countries and companies against buying oil and gold from Maduro`s government.

"What he’s trying to do here is give orders," Arreaza complained to reporters.

Arreaza follows Bolton on Twitter. Bolton does not follow him back.

"Bolton`s gangster-style language and threats are proof of the most sublime diplomatic practice. How regrettable that US foreign policy has fallen into the hands of such a gang," Arreaza tweeted last week.

While Bolton has far fewer followers than Maduro - 543,000 to Maduro`s 3.5 million - Bolton has stronger stats on "engagement," a measurement of how readers connect with a message, noted Matthias Luefkens, who produces an annual "Twiplomacy" study on how world leaders use Twitter.

"His language is very bold, very daring, direct. It`s not diplomatic language that he uses," said Luefkens, who works for the public relations firm BCW Global in Geneva.

The strategy bypasses the time-sucking layers of approvals needed to release a traditional White House statement and also side-steps the media.

"It`s the Trump formula of avoiding the gatekeepers," said Philip Seib, who writes about diplomacy and social media at the University of Southern California`s School for Communication and Journalism.

Bolton`s brash style won fans in Caracas among supporters of opposition leader Guaido, like Martha Anez. She gushed about the mustachioed Trump adviser as she welcomed her friends to a crochet circle in her home in a well-to-do district earlier this month.

"I dream of Bolton!" Anez quipped. "The first thing I do in the morning, even before my coffee, is check whether or not the gringos have said they will intervene. Here we need a square in honor of Bolton! Because he has helped us," she said.

John Bolton, US President Donald Trump`s national security adviser, shakes stars-and-stripes maracas as he dreams of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro behind bars in an orange prison suit.

John Bolton, US President Donald Trump`s national security adviser, shakes stars-and-stripes maracas as he dreams of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro behind bars in an orange prison suit. "Guantanamero ... Maduro Guantanamero ...," Bolton sings in a caricature by Venezuelan cartoonist Fernando Pinilla - a play on both the well-known Cuban song, and the US military detention center at Guantanamo Bay. A mounted copy of the cartoon from Miami newspaper Diario Las Americas has joined the trophy wall in Bolton`s West Wing office, which until now has been dominated by mementos associated with his signature foreign policy fight: Iran. One cartoon features an ayatollah hearing about Trump`s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. The new addition is a sign of how Bolton`s hawkish focus has zeroed in on a new target - getting Maduro to leave Venezuela. It`s a battle he has waged on Twitter, where his acid-tongued trolling of the socialist leader has made him one of the Trump administration`s fiercest voices on the issue. The United States has led an international effort to recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela, considering Maduro`s 2018 re-election a sham. Since January, Bolton has fired off more than 130 withering missives directed at Maduro, accounting for three quarters of all his Twitter activity in that time and more than a third of all his tweets since Trump named him national security adviser in March 2018. A spokesman for Bolton declined comment on the strategy. Bolton, a veteran neoconservative who critics call a warmonger, has tweeted far more about Venezuela in his time as national security adviser than any other topic, including Iran (34 tweets) or the Middle East and Syria (29 tweets). It was Bolton`s most viral Venezuela tweet that was the genesis for the cartoon that now graces his office. "I wish Nicolas Maduro and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement, living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela," Bolton said, a zing that has since been retweeted 19,000 times and liked 39,000 times. The next day, Bolton talked about the tweet with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, and added a threat: "The sooner he takes advantage of that, the sooner he`s likely to have a nice, quiet retirement on a pretty beach, rather than being in some other beach area like Guantanamo," Bolton said. In Caracas, Pinilla heard about Bolton`s warning and was inspired. "It was easy to imagine that it would be the soundtrack of that arrest, which is our dream," said Pinilla, who said he was surprised and honored when he learned from Reuters that his work was hanging on Bolton`s wall. `I DREAM OF BOLTON` Bolton`s war of words has rankled his targets. Earlier this month, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza held up his phone at a United Nations press conference, brandishing a Bolton tweet warning countries and companies against buying oil and gold from Maduro`s government. "What he’s trying to do here is give orders," Arreaza complained to reporters. Arreaza follows Bolton on Twitter. Bolton does not follow him back. "Bolton`s gangster-style language and threats are proof of the most sublime diplomatic practice. How regrettable that US foreign policy has fallen into the hands of such a gang," Arreaza tweeted last week. While Bolton has far fewer followers than Maduro - 543,000 to Maduro`s 3.5 million - Bolton has stronger stats on "engagement," a measurement of how readers connect with a message, noted Matthias Luefkens, who produces an annual "Twiplomacy" study on how world leaders use Twitter. "His language is very bold, very daring, direct. It`s not diplomatic language that he uses," said Luefkens, who works for the public relations firm BCW Global in Geneva. The strategy bypasses the time-sucking layers of approvals needed to release a traditional White House statement and also side-steps the media. "It`s the Trump formula of avoiding the gatekeepers," said Philip Seib, who writes about diplomacy and social media at the University of Southern California`s School for Communication and Journalism. Bolton`s brash style won fans in Caracas among supporters of opposition leader Guaido, like Martha Anez. She gushed about the mustachioed Trump adviser as she welcomed her friends to a crochet circle in her home in a well-to-do district earlier this month. "I dream of Bolton!" Anez quipped. "The first thing I do in the morning, even before my coffee, is check whether or not the gringos have said they will intervene. Here we need a square in honor of Bolton! Because he has helped us," she said.

Move over ayatollahs: Bolton turns tweets and talons on Maduro

The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers voiced their opposition to military action in Venezuela on Wednesday, as President Nicolas Maduro faces <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/venezuela-crisis-us-imposes-new-sanctions-on-maduros-government-199746">increasing pressure from the United States</a> to step down.

Russia and China, which have had close relations with Maduro over the years, have repeatedly warned against any foreign interference in Venezuela, while Washington has backed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-guaido-meets-with-foreign-allies-for-anti-maduro-strategy-199636">opposition leader</a>.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated Moscow's assertion that the United States was using aid deliveries as a pretext to carry out military action in Venezuela.&nbsp;

"We are working together with all the countries that are no less than us concerned by the scenario of a military interference," Lavrov at a previously planned meeting with his Indian and Chinese counterparts in the Chinese city of Wuzhen.

"I believe the US should listen to what the countries in the region think," he added.

The United States is among some 50 countries that recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, while Maduro still enjoys the diplomatic support of Russia and China.

US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is not ruling out armed action, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said he was confident that "Maduro's days are numbered."

Earlier this week, the US said it would ask the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution demanding that humanitarian aid be allowed into &nbsp;Venezuela -- a major escalation in its diplomatic campaign in support of Guaido -- and announced $56 million in aid to Venezuelans.&nbsp;

Bloody violence erupted at Venezuela's blockaged border last weekend as the country's security forces cracked down on opposition supporters trying to bring aid supplies across the bridge.

China, which is one of Venezuela's main creditors, has maintained a stance of neutrality and non-interference, as Venezuela's economy is wracked by hyperinflation and shortages of basic necessities amid the escalating power struggle between Maduro and Guaido.

"The nature of the Venezuela problem is Venezuela's internal affairs," China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, echoing his Russian counterpart's comments on military intervention.

"When each country handles the Venezuelan issue, we should...uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, oppose the use or threat of military force, and uphold the standards of basic international relations," he added.

The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers voiced their opposition to military action in Venezuela on Wednesday, as President Nicolas Maduro faces increasing pressure from the United States to step down.

The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers voiced their opposition to military action in Venezuela on Wednesday, as President Nicolas Maduro faces increasing pressure from the United States to step down. Russia and China, which have had close relations with Maduro over the years, have repeatedly warned against any foreign interference in Venezuela, while Washington has backed the opposition leader. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated Moscow's assertion that the United States was using aid deliveries as a pretext to carry out military action in Venezuela. "We are working together with all the countries that are no less than us concerned by the scenario of a military interference," Lavrov at a previously planned meeting with his Indian and Chinese counterparts in the Chinese city of Wuzhen. "I believe the US should listen to what the countries in the region think," he added. The United States is among some 50 countries that recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, while Maduro still enjoys the diplomatic support of Russia and China. US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is not ruling out armed action, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said he was confident that "Maduro's days are numbered." Earlier this week, the US said it would ask the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution demanding that humanitarian aid be allowed into Venezuela -- a major escalation in its diplomatic campaign in support of Guaido -- and announced $56 million in aid to Venezuelans. Bloody violence erupted at Venezuela's blockaged border last weekend as the country's security forces cracked down on opposition supporters trying to bring aid supplies across the bridge. China, which is one of Venezuela's main creditors, has maintained a stance of neutrality and non-interference, as Venezuela's economy is wracked by hyperinflation and shortages of basic necessities amid the escalating power struggle between Maduro and Guaido. "The nature of the Venezuela problem is Venezuela's internal affairs," China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, echoing his Russian counterpart's comments on military intervention. "When each country handles the Venezuelan issue, we should...uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, oppose the use or threat of military force, and uphold the standards of basic international relations," he added.

China, Russia urge against military action in Venezuela

First, he declared a rival presidency. Then he made a play for Citgo. Last weekend he flouted a court travel ban. Now, Juan Guaido says he is headed back home to Venezuela in another challenge to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-deports-univision-team-after-maduro-shown-garbage-eating-video-199910">President Nicolas Maduro</a>.

Guaido, recognised by most Western nations as the country's legitimate leader, slipped into neighbouring Colombia last week to lead an ultimately failed effort to bring humanitarian aid into the crisis-stricken country.

After meeting with regional leaders including US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence in Bogota, Guaido is expected to come back through the porous border in the coming days and resume his political activities in open defiance of a Supreme Court order.

"I'm going to return to Caracas this week," Guaido said in an interview with NTN24 broadcast on Tuesday. "My role and my duty is to be in Caracas despite the risks."

He travelled last week from Caracas across the country in a caravan and then slipped into Colombia via back roads along the 2,200 km (1,367 miles) border, according to Colombian local media. Guaido said he received help from members of Venezuela's armed forces.

Representatives for Guaido declined to disclose a timetable for his return or whether he will return the same way. To return via an official route would pose an even more brazen challenge to Maduro's authority.

Maduro has faced regional condemnation this week for violently driving back the opposition's attempts to bring in humanitarian aid. He denies there is a crisis despite overseeing a hyperinflationary economic meltdown that has spawned widespread food and medicine shortages.

Guaido's return will force Maduro to decide whether to risk even greater international outrage by attempting to arrest the 35-year old Congress chief or to allow him to openly disregard state institutions linked to the ruling Socialist Party.

"Trying to manage the Guaido situation has become a real problem for the government because (Guaido) has grown so much politically," said Luis Salamanca, a political scientist and constitutional law professor at Venezuela's Central University.

Guaido invoked articles of the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, declaring Maduro a usurper following his 2018 re-election in a vote widely boycotted by the opposition.

State institutions including the chief prosecutor's office, the Supreme Court, and the comptroller's officer - all openly allied with Maduro - responded by opening investigations of Guaido.

But no state institution has sought his arrest or even formally accused him of a crime. So far authorities have only frozen his local bank accounts and prohibited foreign travel.

The ruling Socialist Party has in the past clipped the wings of opposition politicians, particularly charismatic challengers, by accusing them of irregularities in managing state funds.

Maduro said in an ABC News interview released on Tuesday that Guaido's fate was up to the justice system: "He can't just come and go. He will have to face justice, and justice prohibited him from leaving the country. I will respect the laws."

Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Guaido said his team had a strategy should he be detained, without giving details on what that was.

"A prisoner doesn't do anyone any good but neither does an exiled president so we are in uncharted waters here," he said.

KEEPING UP MOMENTUM

Many Venezuelans credit Guaido, a fresh face, with capturing the international community's attention through his bold move to swear himself in as interim president, galvanizing a once-fractured and weary opposition.

Maduro, who has described his rival as a US-backed puppet, now faces severe international pressure including US sanctions meant to cripple the OPEC nation's vital oil industry.

"I hope he returns because he has shown himself to be a politician with strength, who has given us hope," said Martha Sanchez, 65, a receptionist who has lost a third of her weight due to hyperinflation that has left her struggling to buy food on a minimum wage equivalent to less than $10 per month.

Guaido's attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country had, in particular, fuelled her hope as she has been unable to find hypertension pills for sale over the past two months.

"No other candidate called for humanitarian aid before," she said.

To be sure, Guaido's team also faces a conundrum after that effort failed, allowing Maduro to declare victory even as the images of troops firing tear gas on convoys carrying aid sparked anger around the world.

Guaido's team has won control over crucial offshore assets including US-based refiner Citgo but still does not control the ports or central bank, or, most crucially, the armed forces.

"If he doesn't keep up momentum, he will end up being another failed leader of the opposition," said Jesus Barreto, a 21-year old student. "He needs to keep challenging the government."

Maduro's government has largely allowed him to carry out political activities including rallies and press conferences and appears unwilling to imprison him - even now that he has openly flouted a legal restriction placed upon him.

"I think they will hold off because it is much more sustainable over time to make your opponent seem ineffective than making yourself appear more like a dictator, especially when there is so much focus on you," said Raul Gallegos, an analyst with the consultancy Control Risks.

First, he declared a rival presidency. Then he made a play for Citgo. Last weekend he flouted a court travel ban. Now, Juan Guaido says he is headed back home to Venezuela in another challenge to President Nicolas Maduro.

First, he declared a rival presidency. Then he made a play for Citgo. Last weekend he flouted a court travel ban. Now, Juan Guaido says he is headed back home to Venezuela in another challenge to President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido, recognised by most Western nations as the country's legitimate leader, slipped into neighbouring Colombia last week to lead an ultimately failed effort to bring humanitarian aid into the crisis-stricken country. After meeting with regional leaders including US Vice President Mike Pence in Bogota, Guaido is expected to come back through the porous border in the coming days and resume his political activities in open defiance of a Supreme Court order. "I'm going to return to Caracas this week," Guaido said in an interview with NTN24 broadcast on Tuesday. "My role and my duty is to be in Caracas despite the risks." He travelled last week from Caracas across the country in a caravan and then slipped into Colombia via back roads along the 2,200 km (1,367 miles) border, according to Colombian local media. Guaido said he received help from members of Venezuela's armed forces. Representatives for Guaido declined to disclose a timetable for his return or whether he will return the same way. To return via an official route would pose an even more brazen challenge to Maduro's authority. Maduro has faced regional condemnation this week for violently driving back the opposition's attempts to bring in humanitarian aid. He denies there is a crisis despite overseeing a hyperinflationary economic meltdown that has spawned widespread food and medicine shortages. Guaido's return will force Maduro to decide whether to risk even greater international outrage by attempting to arrest the 35-year old Congress chief or to allow him to openly disregard state institutions linked to the ruling Socialist Party. "Trying to manage the Guaido situation has become a real problem for the government because (Guaido) has grown so much politically," said Luis Salamanca, a political scientist and constitutional law professor at Venezuela's Central University. Guaido invoked articles of the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, declaring Maduro a usurper following his 2018 re-election in a vote widely boycotted by the opposition. State institutions including the chief prosecutor's office, the Supreme Court, and the comptroller's officer - all openly allied with Maduro - responded by opening investigations of Guaido. But no state institution has sought his arrest or even formally accused him of a crime. So far authorities have only frozen his local bank accounts and prohibited foreign travel. The ruling Socialist Party has in the past clipped the wings of opposition politicians, particularly charismatic challengers, by accusing them of irregularities in managing state funds. Maduro said in an ABC News interview released on Tuesday that Guaido's fate was up to the justice system: "He can't just come and go. He will have to face justice, and justice prohibited him from leaving the country. I will respect the laws." Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Guaido said his team had a strategy should he be detained, without giving details on what that was. "A prisoner doesn't do anyone any good but neither does an exiled president so we are in uncharted waters here," he said. KEEPING UP MOMENTUM Many Venezuelans credit Guaido, a fresh face, with capturing the international community's attention through his bold move to swear himself in as interim president, galvanizing a once-fractured and weary opposition. Maduro, who has described his rival as a US-backed puppet, now faces severe international pressure including US sanctions meant to cripple the OPEC nation's vital oil industry. "I hope he returns because he has shown himself to be a politician with strength, who has given us hope," said Martha Sanchez, 65, a receptionist who has lost a third of her weight due to hyperinflation that has left her struggling to buy food on a minimum wage equivalent to less than $10 per month. Guaido's attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country had, in particular, fuelled her hope as she has been unable to find hypertension pills for sale over the past two months. "No other candidate called for humanitarian aid before," she said. To be sure, Guaido's team also faces a conundrum after that effort failed, allowing Maduro to declare victory even as the images of troops firing tear gas on convoys carrying aid sparked anger around the world. Guaido's team has won control over crucial offshore assets including US-based refiner Citgo but still does not control the ports or central bank, or, most crucially, the armed forces. "If he doesn't keep up momentum, he will end up being another failed leader of the opposition," said Jesus Barreto, a 21-year old student. "He needs to keep challenging the government." Maduro's government has largely allowed him to carry out political activities including rallies and press conferences and appears unwilling to imprison him - even now that he has openly flouted a legal restriction placed upon him. "I think they will hold off because it is much more sustainable over time to make your opponent seem ineffective than making yourself appear more like a dictator, especially when there is so much focus on you," said Raul Gallegos, an analyst with the consultancy Control Risks.

Opposition leader Guaido's return to Venezuela to mark brazen defiance of Maduro

By Ben Zissimos

Violence erupted at the Venezuela-Colombia border over the delivery of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, killing four people and injuring 24 on February 22.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that his “days are numbered,” and Trump officials reiterated that the US is considering all options, including military action, to address Venezuela’s crisis.

Almost 80 per cent of Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, who was reinaugurated for a second six-year term in January after an election widely seen as fraudulent. Since taking power in 2013, he has led Venezuela into a deep economic crisis.

In late January, opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared Maduro a “usurper” and swore himself in as the country’s rightful president. More than 50 countries – including the United States, Europe and most of Latin America – want to replace Maduro’s regime with a Guaidó-led government.

Despite near global condemnation of Maduro, any US intervention in Venezuela would be controversial. The United States’ long history of interfering in Latin American politics suggests that its military operations generally usher in dictatorship and civil war – not democracy.

The Cuban-US Cold War

Cuba, the focus of my history research, is a prime example of this pattern.

US-Cuban relations have never recovered from President William McKinley’s intervention in Cuba’s war for independence over a century ago.

Before waging what in the US is known as the Spanish-American War in 1898, McKinley promised that “the people of the island of Cuba” would be “free and independent” from Spain and that his government had no “intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said Island.”

In the end, however, Cuba’s independence from Spain meant domination by the United States.

For 60 years after the Spanish-American War, the White House made repeated military and diplomatic interventions in Cuba, supporting politicians who protected US economic interests in sugar, utilities, banks or tourism and who backed American foreign policy in the Caribbean.

By 1952, when the US-backed Fulgencio Batista overthrew President Carlos Prío Socarrás, Cuba’s government had effectively become protectors of American businesses, according to my research. Batista had a warm relationship with both Washington, DC and the American organized crime groups that used to control Havana’s tourist industry.

A communist revolution led by Fidel Castro overthrew Batista’s military junta in 1959. Castro decried the “imperialist government of the United States” for turning Cuba into an “American colony.”

The Kennedy administration’s trade embargo against Cuba and the disastrous 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion – in which the US military trained Cuban dissidents in an attempt to unseat Castro – only pushed Cuba further into the orbit of Soviet Russia.

For the past six decades, the US and Cuba have remained locked in a Cold War, with a brief thaw under President Barack Obama.

Anti-communist coups

Fearing that communism would spread across the hemisphere, the US government repeatedly interfered in the politics of Latin American nations during the Cold War.

In 1954 the CIA worked with elements of the Guatemalan military to overthrow elected President Jacobo Árbenz, whom US policymakers considered dangerously left-wing. Decades of dictatorship and civil war followed, killing an estimated 200,000 people.

A peace agreement in 1996 restored democracy, but Guatemala has yet to recover economically, politically or psychologically from the bloodshed.

Then there is Chile’s US-supported coup d'etat. In 1973, the US government covertly assisted right-wing elements of the Chilean military in overthrowing the socialist president Salvador Allende.

General Augusto Pinochet took power with the quiet financial and political support of the United States. His dictatorship, which lasted until 1990, killed tens of thousands of Chileans.

The Dominican Republic and Panama

US intervention in Latin America did not start or end with the Cold War.

During World War I, the United States was concerned that Germany could use the Dominican Republic as a base of military operations. So American troops occupied the Caribbean island from 1916 to 1924. 
 
Though the American-led administration improved the finances and infrastructure of the Dominican Republic, it also created the national guard that helped to propel Gen. Rafael Trujillo into power. His 30-year reign was savage.

President George H W Bush’s 1989 invasion of Panama is the rare exception when U.S. intervention in Latin American affairs actually created stability.

Most Panamanians appear to have supported the 1989 U.S. military operation to remove the corrupt and brutal military strongman Manuel Noriega.

In the years since, Panama has enjoyed comparatively peaceful elections and transfers of power.

Anti-Americanism in Latin America

On balance, though, US military operations in Latin America have rarely brought democracy.

But they have created strong anti-American sentiment in the region, which leftist leaders from Fidel Castro to Hugo Chávez have adeptly harnessed to vilify their political opponents as mere US puppets.

Support for the US government is lower now than it has been in decades. Just 35 per cent of Argentines, 39 per cent of Chileans and 45 percent of Venezuelans view the US favourably, according to the Pew Research Center.

President Maduro, too, has used anti-imperialist rhetoric. He denounces US sanctions and other efforts to isolate his regime as a “gringo plot.”

A safer way to restore democracy

This history explains why a US intervention in Venezuela would be viewed with skepticism. Though Maduro is unpopular, 65 per cent of Venezuelans oppose any foreign military operation to remove Maduro, according to recent polling.

Rather than plan yet another coup d'etat, I believe US&nbsp;efforts in Venezuela should support the work of the Lima Group, a coalition of 12 Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil, plus Canada.

The Lima Group has ruled out military force in Venezuela. Its pressure campaign to force him out peacefully has included diplomatically isolating his regime and asking Venezuela’s soldiers to pledge loyalty to Guaidó.

A negotiated settlement leading to Maduro’s voluntary departure from office is their ultimate goal.

Regional diplomacy is much slower than foreign intervention. But it avoids further bloodshed and reduces the role of anti-Americanism in Venezuela’s crisis.

It may also open a new chapter in the history of US-Latin American relations – one in which the US takes its lead from the region, and not the other way around.

(Joseph J Gonzalez is Associate Professor, Global Studies, Appalachian State University)

(This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/venezuela-crisis-trump-threats-to-maduro-evoke-bloody-history-of-us-intervention-in-latin-america-111169">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

By Ben Zissimos Violence erupted at the Venezuela-Colombia border over the delivery of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, killing four people and injuring 24 on February 22.

By Ben Zissimos Violence erupted at the Venezuela-Colombia border over the delivery of humanitarian aid to Venezuela, killing four people and injuring 24 on February 22. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that his “days are numbered,” and Trump officials reiterated that the US is considering all options, including military action, to address Venezuela’s crisis. Almost 80 per cent of Venezuelans disapprove of Maduro, who was reinaugurated for a second six-year term in January after an election widely seen as fraudulent. Since taking power in 2013, he has led Venezuela into a deep economic crisis. In late January, opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared Maduro a “usurper” and swore himself in as the country’s rightful president. More than 50 countries – including the United States, Europe and most of Latin America – want to replace Maduro’s regime with a Guaidó-led government. Despite near global condemnation of Maduro, any US intervention in Venezuela would be controversial. The United States’ long history of interfering in Latin American politics suggests that its military operations generally usher in dictatorship and civil war – not democracy. The Cuban-US Cold War Cuba, the focus of my history research, is a prime example of this pattern. US-Cuban relations have never recovered from President William McKinley’s intervention in Cuba’s war for independence over a century ago. Before waging what in the US is known as the Spanish-American War in 1898, McKinley promised that “the people of the island of Cuba” would be “free and independent” from Spain and that his government had no “intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said Island.” In the end, however, Cuba’s independence from Spain meant domination by the United States. For 60 years after the Spanish-American War, the White House made repeated military and diplomatic interventions in Cuba, supporting politicians who protected US economic interests in sugar, utilities, banks or tourism and who backed American foreign policy in the Caribbean. By 1952, when the US-backed Fulgencio Batista overthrew President Carlos Prío Socarrás, Cuba’s government had effectively become protectors of American businesses, according to my research. Batista had a warm relationship with both Washington, DC and the American organized crime groups that used to control Havana’s tourist industry. A communist revolution led by Fidel Castro overthrew Batista’s military junta in 1959. Castro decried the “imperialist government of the United States” for turning Cuba into an “American colony.” The Kennedy administration’s trade embargo against Cuba and the disastrous 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion – in which the US military trained Cuban dissidents in an attempt to unseat Castro – only pushed Cuba further into the orbit of Soviet Russia. For the past six decades, the US and Cuba have remained locked in a Cold War, with a brief thaw under President Barack Obama. Anti-communist coups Fearing that communism would spread across the hemisphere, the US government repeatedly interfered in the politics of Latin American nations during the Cold War. In 1954 the CIA worked with elements of the Guatemalan military to overthrow elected President Jacobo Árbenz, whom US policymakers considered dangerously left-wing. Decades of dictatorship and civil war followed, killing an estimated 200,000 people. A peace agreement in 1996 restored democracy, but Guatemala has yet to recover economically, politically or psychologically from the bloodshed. Then there is Chile’s US-supported coup d'etat. In 1973, the US government covertly assisted right-wing elements of the Chilean military in overthrowing the socialist president Salvador Allende. General Augusto Pinochet took power with the quiet financial and political support of the United States. His dictatorship, which lasted until 1990, killed tens of thousands of Chileans. The Dominican Republic and Panama US intervention in Latin America did not start or end with the Cold War. During World War I, the United States was concerned that Germany could use the Dominican Republic as a base of military operations. So American troops occupied the Caribbean island from 1916 to 1924. Though the American-led administration improved the finances and infrastructure of the Dominican Republic, it also created the national guard that helped to propel Gen. Rafael Trujillo into power. His 30-year reign was savage. President George H W Bush’s 1989 invasion of Panama is the rare exception when U.S. intervention in Latin American affairs actually created stability. Most Panamanians appear to have supported the 1989 U.S. military operation to remove the corrupt and brutal military strongman Manuel Noriega. In the years since, Panama has enjoyed comparatively peaceful elections and transfers of power. Anti-Americanism in Latin America On balance, though, US military operations in Latin America have rarely brought democracy. But they have created strong anti-American sentiment in the region, which leftist leaders from Fidel Castro to Hugo Chávez have adeptly harnessed to vilify their political opponents as mere US puppets. Support for the US government is lower now than it has been in decades. Just 35 per cent of Argentines, 39 per cent of Chileans and 45 percent of Venezuelans view the US favourably, according to the Pew Research Center. President Maduro, too, has used anti-imperialist rhetoric. He denounces US sanctions and other efforts to isolate his regime as a “gringo plot.” A safer way to restore democracy This history explains why a US intervention in Venezuela would be viewed with skepticism. Though Maduro is unpopular, 65 per cent of Venezuelans oppose any foreign military operation to remove Maduro, according to recent polling. Rather than plan yet another coup d'etat, I believe US efforts in Venezuela should support the work of the Lima Group, a coalition of 12 Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil, plus Canada. The Lima Group has ruled out military force in Venezuela. Its pressure campaign to force him out peacefully has included diplomatically isolating his regime and asking Venezuela’s soldiers to pledge loyalty to Guaidó. A negotiated settlement leading to Maduro’s voluntary departure from office is their ultimate goal. Regional diplomacy is much slower than foreign intervention. But it avoids further bloodshed and reduces the role of anti-Americanism in Venezuela’s crisis. It may also open a new chapter in the history of US-Latin American relations – one in which the US takes its lead from the region, and not the other way around. (Joseph J Gonzalez is Associate Professor, Global Studies, Appalachian State University) (This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Venezuela crisis: Donald Trump's threats to Nicolas Maduro evoke history of US intervention in Latin America

Venezuela on Tuesday deported a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/venezuela-stands-close-to-the-brink-of-another-revolution-199805">US television network Univision news</a> team led by anchor Jorge Ramos after they were briefly detained at the presidential palace because their line of questioning upset President Nicolas Maduro.

The six-person team was held for more than two hours in the Miraflores palace after Maduro said he did not like their questions, Ramos said at Caracas airport before boarding his flight.

Univision Producer, Ana Martinez, said she and Ramos had been body checked by Maduro's people who also turned off the lights to take away their backpacks and equipment.

Venezuela's socialist government has long had a tense relationship with Western media, which it largely considers hostile and in league with "imperialist" interests.

Short detentions and deportations have become common, especially as reporters facing delays for official permissions seek shortcuts to report in Venezuela.

Ramos, a veteran anchor born in Mexico, said he asked Maduro about the lack of democracy in Venezuela, the torture of political prisoners and the country's humanitarian crisis.

The president stopped the interview after being shown a video of young Venezuelans eating from a garbage truck. "They confiscated all our equipment," Ramos said.

Ramos and his team were deported on Tuesday and were at the airport at 0800 local (0700 ET). Ramos had said they were scheduled to leave on a midday flight to Miami.

Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Twitter the government had in the past welcomed hundreds of journalists to the Miraflores presidential palace, but it did not support "cheap shows" put on with the help of the US&nbsp;Department of State.

Maduro had been conducting interviews with several US media networks on Monday.

Venezuela's government accuses the United States, which is openly pushing for Maduro to step down, of attempting to orchestrate a coup. Washington earlier on Monday targeted Venezuela with new sanctions and called on allies to freeze assets of its state-owned oil company PDVSA.

Spanish-language Univision and the US Department of State had called on Maduro to release the journalists after Ramos rang the network to say they had been detained.

Venezuela on Tuesday deported a US television network Univision news team led by anchor Jorge Ramos after they were briefly detained at the presidential palace because their line of questioning upset President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela on Tuesday deported a US television network Univision news team led by anchor Jorge Ramos after they were briefly detained at the presidential palace because their line of questioning upset President Nicolas Maduro. The six-person team was held for more than two hours in the Miraflores palace after Maduro said he did not like their questions, Ramos said at Caracas airport before boarding his flight. Univision Producer, Ana Martinez, said she and Ramos had been body checked by Maduro's people who also turned off the lights to take away their backpacks and equipment. Venezuela's socialist government has long had a tense relationship with Western media, which it largely considers hostile and in league with "imperialist" interests. Short detentions and deportations have become common, especially as reporters facing delays for official permissions seek shortcuts to report in Venezuela. Ramos, a veteran anchor born in Mexico, said he asked Maduro about the lack of democracy in Venezuela, the torture of political prisoners and the country's humanitarian crisis. The president stopped the interview after being shown a video of young Venezuelans eating from a garbage truck. "They confiscated all our equipment," Ramos said. Ramos and his team were deported on Tuesday and were at the airport at 0800 local (0700 ET). Ramos had said they were scheduled to leave on a midday flight to Miami. Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Twitter the government had in the past welcomed hundreds of journalists to the Miraflores presidential palace, but it did not support "cheap shows" put on with the help of the US Department of State. Maduro had been conducting interviews with several US media networks on Monday. Venezuela's government accuses the United States, which is openly pushing for Maduro to step down, of attempting to orchestrate a coup. Washington earlier on Monday targeted Venezuela with new sanctions and called on allies to freeze assets of its state-owned oil company PDVSA. Spanish-language Univision and the US Department of State had called on Maduro to release the journalists after Ramos rang the network to say they had been detained.

Venezuela deports Univision team after Maduro shown 'garbage eating' video

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-venezuelan-governors-supporting-nicolas-maduro-199710">Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro</a> accused the American government of manufacturing a crisis in an attempt to start a war in South America, in an interview broadcast on Monday.

"Everything that the United States government has done has been doomed to failure," Maduro told American broadcaster ABC News from the presidential palace in Caracas in remarks translated by the network from Spanish.

"They are trying to fabricate a crisis to justify political escalation and military intervention in Venezuela to bring a war to South America."

Earlier in the day, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-with-you-100-per-cent-us-vice-president-pence-to-venezuelas-guaido-199713">US Vice President Mike Pence</a> announced $56 million in aid to Venezuelans as well as tougher US sanctions as he joined a Lima Group meeting of Latin American countries plus Canada that was also attended by opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The United States is among some 50 countries that recognize Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Maduro blasted the talks in Bogota as being "politics to attempt to establish a parallel government in Venezuela."&nbsp;

Washington, he said, "wants Venezuela's oil" and is "willing to go to war for that oil."

"The extremist Ku Klux Klan government that Donald Trump directs wants a war over oil, and more than just oil," Maduro said, describing Venezuela as a "pacifist, humble nation."

But he also said he was ready to participate in a "direct dialogue" with the Trump administration.

Asked if he would allow Guaido back into the country, Maduro said: "He has to respect the laws."

Guaido "can leave and come back and will have to see the face of justice because justice had prohibited him from him leaving the country."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the American government of manufacturing a crisis in an attempt to start a war in South America, in an interview broadcast on Monday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the American government of manufacturing a crisis in an attempt to start a war in South America, in an interview broadcast on Monday. "Everything that the United States government has done has been doomed to failure," Maduro told American broadcaster ABC News from the presidential palace in Caracas in remarks translated by the network from Spanish. "They are trying to fabricate a crisis to justify political escalation and military intervention in Venezuela to bring a war to South America." Earlier in the day, US Vice President Mike Pence announced $56 million in aid to Venezuelans as well as tougher US sanctions as he joined a Lima Group meeting of Latin American countries plus Canada that was also attended by opposition leader Juan Guaido. The United States is among some 50 countries that recognize Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. Maduro blasted the talks in Bogota as being "politics to attempt to establish a parallel government in Venezuela." Washington, he said, "wants Venezuela's oil" and is "willing to go to war for that oil." "The extremist Ku Klux Klan government that Donald Trump directs wants a war over oil, and more than just oil," Maduro said, describing Venezuela as a "pacifist, humble nation." But he also said he was ready to participate in a "direct dialogue" with the Trump administration. Asked if he would allow Guaido back into the country, Maduro said: "He has to respect the laws." Guaido "can leave and come back and will have to see the face of justice because justice had prohibited him from him leaving the country."

Maduro says US wants to 'fabricate' Venezuela crisis to start war

By Ben Zissimos

Venezuela stands close to the brink of another revolution. Acute shortages of food and medicine, along with quintuple-digit inflation, has led to an economic crisis.

With a large amount of much-needed humanitarian aid being held at Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil, things could turn very violent (some skirmishes have already taken place). The aid has been sent by the US and other international supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Together they brand President Nicolás Maduro a dictator, believing that he rigged his election in May 2018, and demand that he now stand down and restore democracy. But the army, so far, remains loyal to Maduro and troops have barricaded the border crossings to prevent aid from entering – something Maduro fears is a prelude to US invasion.

In applying my research to the situation in Venezuela, it’s clear that things could soon come to a head. My research shows how dictators can manipulate their trade policies to bolster their political survival, foreclosing democratisation in this process. Using an economic model, I strip these types of situations down to a few essential ingredients, simplifying an extremely complex set of circumstances to facilitate deeper insight into how they work. Using my model to think about Venezuela’s situation, we can see precisely the role that the world’s powerful countries play through their sanctions and aid in shaping Venezuela’s prospects for democracy. 
 
Keeping people happy

The basic logic of my model is that the Maduro regime, even as a dictatorship, has to keep the population happy just like any other political regime. After all, while democratic regimes worry about losing power at the ballot box, dictators fear revolution.

The model assumes that people have a sense of how life will be if they overthrew the Maduro regime, through a revolution, paving the way to democracy. Revolution is of course extremely costly and dangerous. But if life becomes so tough for ordinary people that they ultimately feel revolution is worth the costs, then Maduro has the threat of revolution on his hands.

Maduro’s options in the face of the threat of revolution include repression – something he has already experimented with. But, from his perspective, repressing his own people is extremely costly politically. It is also risky, especially when this entails turning against his own support base.

Plus, many members of the military are unwilling to turn their weapons on their own people. This elevates the danger that military repression will ultimately backfire and lead to Maduro’s downfall. More than 100 soldiers are said to have defected during the clashes over aid deliveries.

A better option for Maduro than military repression would be to try and improve the welfare of ordinary people, making them more prepared to live with the status quo of his rule and less inclined to spark a revolution. Adopting this approach is in line with Maduro’s claims that there isn’t any crisis in the country. This is where Venezuela’s vast oil reserves could help him.

One of the insights one gains from viewing this situation through the lens of my model is that dictators can stay in power by using commodities like oil to import food and hence placate the populace. Venezuela’s ability to produce oil has been badly curtailed by the economic chaos engulfing the country, but the oil it does still produce could help Maduro shore up his survival.

This is where international economic policy becomes critical. The EU and US have levied sanctions on Venezuela’s exports, which means they have committed not to buy Venezuela’s oil. This, in turn, hinders the regime’s ability to use its oil to buy the food that Maduro needs. Having food to offer to his population is what stands between Maduro and the threat of a full-blown revolution.

Seen through my model, the explicit purpose of sanctions is to deny Maduro that lifeline, pushing Venezuela to the brink of a revolution. Of course, China and Russia’s support for Venezuela works in precisely the opposite direction, turning Maduro’s survival into a tug of war between the world’s major powers.

Uncomfortable truths

The uncomfortable truth is that, although the purpose of sanctions is to put pressure on the Maduro regime, this glosses over an important aspect of how the pressure works. It works by pushing the Venezuelan people to the point of desperation where they are prepared to risk everything in a revolution rather than live with the status quo.

Yet a second uncomfortable truth arguably outweighs the first. Failing to push the Venezuelan people to the brink of revolution will probably lead to a longer period under the Maduro dictatorship, delaying democratisation in Venezuela and entrenching the current misery.

At first sight, US food aid seems to undermine the above rationale. If food is Maduro’s lifeline, and if the purpose of sanctions is to destabilise the Maduro regime by depriving it of food, why send food aid?

I don’t think there was ever any expectation that the Maduro regime would accept the aid. Its purpose was to draw Venezuelan troops to the Colombian border, away from the capital city Caracas, and that is exactly what it has done. This further reduces Maduro’s ability to use the military to repress an uprising in the capital Caracas, further heightening the risk of revolution. It also increases the Venezuelan people’s temptation to overthrow the Maduro regime, because then they could gain access to the food aid immediately.

Another revolution is neither inevitable nor desirable. But, in my view and following the logic of the model I have developed, Venezuela has to get to the brink of revolution before it has any hope of finding the path back to meaningful democracy.

(Ben Zissimos is Associate Professor of Economics, University of Exeter)

(This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/maduro-has-pushed-venezuela-to-the-brink-of-revolution-sanctions-and-aid-may-tip-it-over-the-edge-112324">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

By Ben Zissimos Venezuela stands close to the brink of another revolution. Acute shortages of food and medicine, along with quintuple-digit inflation, has led to an economic crisis.

By Ben Zissimos Venezuela stands close to the brink of another revolution. Acute shortages of food and medicine, along with quintuple-digit inflation, has led to an economic crisis. With a large amount of much-needed humanitarian aid being held at Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil, things could turn very violent (some skirmishes have already taken place). The aid has been sent by the US and other international supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Together they brand President Nicolás Maduro a dictator, believing that he rigged his election in May 2018, and demand that he now stand down and restore democracy. But the army, so far, remains loyal to Maduro and troops have barricaded the border crossings to prevent aid from entering – something Maduro fears is a prelude to US invasion. In applying my research to the situation in Venezuela, it’s clear that things could soon come to a head. My research shows how dictators can manipulate their trade policies to bolster their political survival, foreclosing democratisation in this process. Using an economic model, I strip these types of situations down to a few essential ingredients, simplifying an extremely complex set of circumstances to facilitate deeper insight into how they work. Using my model to think about Venezuela’s situation, we can see precisely the role that the world’s powerful countries play through their sanctions and aid in shaping Venezuela’s prospects for democracy. Keeping people happy The basic logic of my model is that the Maduro regime, even as a dictatorship, has to keep the population happy just like any other political regime. After all, while democratic regimes worry about losing power at the ballot box, dictators fear revolution. The model assumes that people have a sense of how life will be if they overthrew the Maduro regime, through a revolution, paving the way to democracy. Revolution is of course extremely costly and dangerous. But if life becomes so tough for ordinary people that they ultimately feel revolution is worth the costs, then Maduro has the threat of revolution on his hands. Maduro’s options in the face of the threat of revolution include repression – something he has already experimented with. But, from his perspective, repressing his own people is extremely costly politically. It is also risky, especially when this entails turning against his own support base. Plus, many members of the military are unwilling to turn their weapons on their own people. This elevates the danger that military repression will ultimately backfire and lead to Maduro’s downfall. More than 100 soldiers are said to have defected during the clashes over aid deliveries. A better option for Maduro than military repression would be to try and improve the welfare of ordinary people, making them more prepared to live with the status quo of his rule and less inclined to spark a revolution. Adopting this approach is in line with Maduro’s claims that there isn’t any crisis in the country. This is where Venezuela’s vast oil reserves could help him. One of the insights one gains from viewing this situation through the lens of my model is that dictators can stay in power by using commodities like oil to import food and hence placate the populace. Venezuela’s ability to produce oil has been badly curtailed by the economic chaos engulfing the country, but the oil it does still produce could help Maduro shore up his survival. This is where international economic policy becomes critical. The EU and US have levied sanctions on Venezuela’s exports, which means they have committed not to buy Venezuela’s oil. This, in turn, hinders the regime’s ability to use its oil to buy the food that Maduro needs. Having food to offer to his population is what stands between Maduro and the threat of a full-blown revolution. Seen through my model, the explicit purpose of sanctions is to deny Maduro that lifeline, pushing Venezuela to the brink of a revolution. Of course, China and Russia’s support for Venezuela works in precisely the opposite direction, turning Maduro’s survival into a tug of war between the world’s major powers. Uncomfortable truths The uncomfortable truth is that, although the purpose of sanctions is to put pressure on the Maduro regime, this glosses over an important aspect of how the pressure works. It works by pushing the Venezuelan people to the point of desperation where they are prepared to risk everything in a revolution rather than live with the status quo. Yet a second uncomfortable truth arguably outweighs the first. Failing to push the Venezuelan people to the brink of revolution will probably lead to a longer period under the Maduro dictatorship, delaying democratisation in Venezuela and entrenching the current misery. At first sight, US food aid seems to undermine the above rationale. If food is Maduro’s lifeline, and if the purpose of sanctions is to destabilise the Maduro regime by depriving it of food, why send food aid? I don’t think there was ever any expectation that the Maduro regime would accept the aid. Its purpose was to draw Venezuelan troops to the Colombian border, away from the capital city Caracas, and that is exactly what it has done. This further reduces Maduro’s ability to use the military to repress an uprising in the capital Caracas, further heightening the risk of revolution. It also increases the Venezuelan people’s temptation to overthrow the Maduro regime, because then they could gain access to the food aid immediately. Another revolution is neither inevitable nor desirable. But, in my view and following the logic of the model I have developed, Venezuela has to get to the brink of revolution before it has any hope of finding the path back to meaningful democracy. (Ben Zissimos is Associate Professor of Economics, University of Exeter) (This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Venezuela stands close to the brink of another revolution

A boat carrying aid from the United States docked at the island of Curacao on Sunday after officials said the Venezuelan military had stopped it reaching the crisis-hit country.

The shipment was part of a broader drive to take food and medicine into Venezuela in defiance of its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-confident-maduros-days-are-numbered-in-venezuela-199411">President Nicolas Maduro</a>.

The Midnight Stone supply ship, loaded with nine cargo containers, entered the harbour on the Caribbean island 65 kilometres&nbsp;from Venezuela's coast, AFP reporters saw.

Supporters of Venezuela's self-declared president Juan Guaido said it had sailed from Puerto Rico on Wednesday bound for Venezuela with 250 tons of aid.

Puerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rossello on Saturday said a Venezuelan navy vessel had threatened to fire at the boat as it approached Venezuela.

He said he had ordered the aid vessel to "leave the area temporarily." The sea shipments coincided with opposition efforts to truck aid into Venezuela by land.

Those bids led to bloody confrontations at the borders with Colombia and Brazil on Saturday. Maduro has branded Guaido's aid effort a "show" and a smokescreen for a US invasion.

He has ordered Venezuela's sea border with Curacao to be closed. The opposition and foreign powers backing Guaido say Maduro must let aid into Venezuela to relieve people suffering from shortages caused by an economic crisis.

Maduro blames US policies and sanctions for Venezuela's economic woes. Venezuelans in Curacao have also loaded a further 50 tons of aid onto a separate ship there, the Seven Seas.

Its captain told AFP on Sunday he would not sail for Venezuela with the shipment until authorities there opened the border.

A boat carrying aid from the United States docked at the island of Curacao on Sunday after officials said the Venezuelan military had stopped it reaching the crisis-hit country.

A boat carrying aid from the United States docked at the island of Curacao on Sunday after officials said the Venezuelan military had stopped it reaching the crisis-hit country. The shipment was part of a broader drive to take food and medicine into Venezuela in defiance of its President Nicolas Maduro. The Midnight Stone supply ship, loaded with nine cargo containers, entered the harbour on the Caribbean island 65 kilometres from Venezuela's coast, AFP reporters saw. Supporters of Venezuela's self-declared president Juan Guaido said it had sailed from Puerto Rico on Wednesday bound for Venezuela with 250 tons of aid. Puerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rossello on Saturday said a Venezuelan navy vessel had threatened to fire at the boat as it approached Venezuela. He said he had ordered the aid vessel to "leave the area temporarily." The sea shipments coincided with opposition efforts to truck aid into Venezuela by land. Those bids led to bloody confrontations at the borders with Colombia and Brazil on Saturday. Maduro has branded Guaido's aid effort a "show" and a smokescreen for a US invasion. He has ordered Venezuela's sea border with Curacao to be closed. The opposition and foreign powers backing Guaido say Maduro must let aid into Venezuela to relieve people suffering from shortages caused by an economic crisis. Maduro blames US policies and sanctions for Venezuela's economic woes. Venezuelans in Curacao have also loaded a further 50 tons of aid onto a separate ship there, the Seven Seas. Its captain told AFP on Sunday he would not sail for Venezuela with the shipment until authorities there opened the border.

Venezuela aid boat reaches Curacao after reported standoff

A high-risk operation to get humanitarian aid into Venezuela descended into deadly chaos Saturday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-face-of-alleged-threats-maduro-government-completely-shuts-venezuelas-border-with-colombia-199148">President Nicolas Maduro</a>'s security forces fired on demonstrators and aid trucks were set ablaze.

Two people, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed in clashes with security forces on the Brazil-Venezuela border amid efforts to bring in aid there, a human rights group said.&nbsp;

Hundreds were wounded at border crossings with Colombia.

Despite a blockade by Maduro, opposition leader Juan Guaido had set a Saturday deadline for the delivery of food and medical aid stockpiled in Colombia and Brazil. Aid is also being held on the Caribbean island of Curacao.&nbsp;

Humanitarian aid, much of it from the United States, has become the centrepiece of the standoff between Maduro and Guaido, the 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly who declared himself interim president exactly one month ago.&nbsp;

The country is gripped by a humanitarian crisis that has seen poverty soar during a prolonged recession and hyperinflation.

A boat carrying aid from the US territory of Puerto Rico had to turn back after receiving a "direct threat of fire" from Venezuela's military, Governor Ricardo Rossello said, calling the move a "serious violation against a humanitarian mission" that is "unacceptable and outrageous."

Hundreds of volunteers, many clad in white, were frustrated in their attempts to collect the aid at the Colombian border, pinned back by Maduro's security forces.

Violent clashes&nbsp;

Since dawn, protesters in the border towns of Urena and San Antonio were held at bay by the Venezuelan National Guard firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

Gunshots could be heard in the streets of Urena during hours of rioting. Civil defence officials in Colombia said at least 285 people had been injured in clashes at border bridge crossings. Colombia also ordered aid trucks to return from the border after the violence.

Most were Venezuelan nationals who were trying to cross with aid parcels when they were pushed back by Venezuelan forces.

But the most serious incident came hundreds of miles (kilometres) away, at the Santa Elena de Uairen crossing point on the southern border with Brazil.&nbsp;

Two people were killed and 31 wounded when troops blocking the entry of aid opened fire on civilians hoping to gather it, according to rights group Foro Penal.

"They are massacring the people of Venezuela in Santa Elena de Uairen and San Antonio, where from seven o'clock in the morning they did not allow Venezuelans to gather to bring in humanitarian aid," Guaido told reporters in Cucuta where he was coordinating the aid operation.

"From that moment, they deployed irregulars on Venezuelan territory, firing weapons to try to stop what is inevitable," he said.

Maduro's supporters halted and set ablaze two trucks loaded with aid driven through barricades on a border bridge, sending a pall of black smoke into the sky over the Santander crossing linking Cucuta, Colombia with Urena, Venezuela.

"People are saving the bulk of what's on the first truck, and looking after the humanitarian aid that Maduro the dictator ordered burned," opposition lawmaker Gaby Arellano told reporters.

Two other trucks carrying aid sent by Brazil to Venezuela returned to the Brazilian city of Paracaima after Venezuelan troops barred them from crossing for several hours.

Some National Guard troops took advantage of the confusion to abandon their posts and cross into Colombia.&nbsp;

Colombia's immigration service said at least 60 members of the armed forces had deserted the "Maduro dictatorship" by late Saturday.

Guaido, recognized as an interim leader by more than 50 countries -- said they would be welcomed and not treated as traitors.

The opposition leader formally launched a long-planned distribution operation at a warehouse at the Tienditas border bridge in Cucuta joined by the presidents of Chile, Colombia and Paraguay.

"The humanitarian aid is definitely going to Venezuela in a peaceful and calm manner to save lives at this time," said Guaido.

Shortly afterwards, he claimed a first shipment had reached Venezuela to defy Maduro's blockade. But the truck he was referring to remained stuck at the Brazilian border hours later.

Guaido has vowed humanitarian aid would enter his country despite the blockade.&nbsp;

His supporters planned to drive the supplies from Colombia into Venezuela at the closed border crossings supported by a flood of volunteers and accompanied by Catholic priests in an attempt to avoid arrest.

Maduro defiant

Socialist leader Maduro has rejected the aid, which he's dismissed as a show and pretext for a US invasion.

Angered by Colombia's support for Guaido, Maduro announced Venezuela was severing diplomatic ties with Bogota and gave Colombian diplomats 24 hours to leave the country.

"I will never bow down, I will never give in. I will always defend our country with my own life if necessary," Maduro told a rally of his supporters in the capital Caracas after thousands had marched through the city under the slogan "Hands off Venezuela."

As many as 300,000 Venezuelans are in dire need of food and medicine after years of shortages and malnutrition, according to Guaido, who has accused Maduro of rigging his re-election and is demanding a new vote.

United Nations figures show that about 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 during the crisis, and around 5,000 Venezuelans emigrate from their country each day.

On the eve of the faceoff, Guaido defied a government ban on leaving the country and attended a "Venezuela Live Aid" concert organized by British billionaire Richard Branson just over the border in Colombia with some of the biggest names in Spanish-language music.&nbsp;

Hours later, Caracas said it had closed much of the Colombian border, citing threats to Venezuela's security.

A high-risk operation to get humanitarian aid into Venezuela descended into deadly chaos Saturday after President Nicolas Maduro's security forces fired on demonstrators and aid trucks were set ablaze.

A high-risk operation to get humanitarian aid into Venezuela descended into deadly chaos Saturday after President Nicolas Maduro's security forces fired on demonstrators and aid trucks were set ablaze. Two people, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed in clashes with security forces on the Brazil-Venezuela border amid efforts to bring in aid there, a human rights group said. Hundreds were wounded at border crossings with Colombia. Despite a blockade by Maduro, opposition leader Juan Guaido had set a Saturday deadline for the delivery of food and medical aid stockpiled in Colombia and Brazil. Aid is also being held on the Caribbean island of Curacao. Humanitarian aid, much of it from the United States, has become the centrepiece of the standoff between Maduro and Guaido, the 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly who declared himself interim president exactly one month ago. The country is gripped by a humanitarian crisis that has seen poverty soar during a prolonged recession and hyperinflation. A boat carrying aid from the US territory of Puerto Rico had to turn back after receiving a "direct threat of fire" from Venezuela's military, Governor Ricardo Rossello said, calling the move a "serious violation against a humanitarian mission" that is "unacceptable and outrageous." Hundreds of volunteers, many clad in white, were frustrated in their attempts to collect the aid at the Colombian border, pinned back by Maduro's security forces. Violent clashes Since dawn, protesters in the border towns of Urena and San Antonio were held at bay by the Venezuelan National Guard firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Gunshots could be heard in the streets of Urena during hours of rioting. Civil defence officials in Colombia said at least 285 people had been injured in clashes at border bridge crossings. Colombia also ordered aid trucks to return from the border after the violence. Most were Venezuelan nationals who were trying to cross with aid parcels when they were pushed back by Venezuelan forces. But the most serious incident came hundreds of miles (kilometres) away, at the Santa Elena de Uairen crossing point on the southern border with Brazil. Two people were killed and 31 wounded when troops blocking the entry of aid opened fire on civilians hoping to gather it, according to rights group Foro Penal. "They are massacring the people of Venezuela in Santa Elena de Uairen and San Antonio, where from seven o'clock in the morning they did not allow Venezuelans to gather to bring in humanitarian aid," Guaido told reporters in Cucuta where he was coordinating the aid operation. "From that moment, they deployed irregulars on Venezuelan territory, firing weapons to try to stop what is inevitable," he said. Maduro's supporters halted and set ablaze two trucks loaded with aid driven through barricades on a border bridge, sending a pall of black smoke into the sky over the Santander crossing linking Cucuta, Colombia with Urena, Venezuela. "People are saving the bulk of what's on the first truck, and looking after the humanitarian aid that Maduro the dictator ordered burned," opposition lawmaker Gaby Arellano told reporters. Two other trucks carrying aid sent by Brazil to Venezuela returned to the Brazilian city of Paracaima after Venezuelan troops barred them from crossing for several hours. Some National Guard troops took advantage of the confusion to abandon their posts and cross into Colombia. Colombia's immigration service said at least 60 members of the armed forces had deserted the "Maduro dictatorship" by late Saturday. Guaido, recognized as an interim leader by more than 50 countries -- said they would be welcomed and not treated as traitors. The opposition leader formally launched a long-planned distribution operation at a warehouse at the Tienditas border bridge in Cucuta joined by the presidents of Chile, Colombia and Paraguay. "The humanitarian aid is definitely going to Venezuela in a peaceful and calm manner to save lives at this time," said Guaido. Shortly afterwards, he claimed a first shipment had reached Venezuela to defy Maduro's blockade. But the truck he was referring to remained stuck at the Brazilian border hours later. Guaido has vowed humanitarian aid would enter his country despite the blockade. His supporters planned to drive the supplies from Colombia into Venezuela at the closed border crossings supported by a flood of volunteers and accompanied by Catholic priests in an attempt to avoid arrest. Maduro defiant Socialist leader Maduro has rejected the aid, which he's dismissed as a show and pretext for a US invasion. Angered by Colombia's support for Guaido, Maduro announced Venezuela was severing diplomatic ties with Bogota and gave Colombian diplomats 24 hours to leave the country. "I will never bow down, I will never give in. I will always defend our country with my own life if necessary," Maduro told a rally of his supporters in the capital Caracas after thousands had marched through the city under the slogan "Hands off Venezuela." As many as 300,000 Venezuelans are in dire need of food and medicine after years of shortages and malnutrition, according to Guaido, who has accused Maduro of rigging his re-election and is demanding a new vote. United Nations figures show that about 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 during the crisis, and around 5,000 Venezuelans emigrate from their country each day. On the eve of the faceoff, Guaido defied a government ban on leaving the country and attended a "Venezuela Live Aid" concert organized by British billionaire Richard Branson just over the border in Colombia with some of the biggest names in Spanish-language music. Hours later, Caracas said it had closed much of the Colombian border, citing threats to Venezuela's security.

Two killed as Venezuela aid showdown turns violent

*By- Annette Idler

As the crisis in Venezuela continues, aid trucks are being blocked at the border with Colombia. But this development isn’t only about the two men claiming to be the country’s rightful president: it’s also about the borderlands themselves.

The Colombia-Venezuela border is home to some of the worst violence and organised crime in the region. Aid blockages can be seen as yet another manifestation of these problems, with armed groups playing power games at the expense of vulnerable local people.

Concerns that Venezuela’s instability could extend beyond its borders have already materialised – 3 million citizens have left the country. Most of them are “absorbed” by borderland communities, pressurising already strained governance systems.

As our research shows, the pressure on basic services in these communities that have been deficient anyway – health, access to food and jobs – fuels crime, prostitution, and begging, and deepens social tensions. Together with the xenophobic discourse of right-wing politicians, this becomes an explosive mix.

Venezuela’s crisis is also fuelling the expansion of criminal networks that have ruled the region for decades, as they take advantage of the economic crisis along the border.

Take cocaine production, for example. Colombian coca cultivation has increased, especially near the border with Venezuela. As one civil society leader from Colombia told our research team, a “labour force from Venezuela is arriving at the coca cultivations”.

The money Venezuelans can make in coca farming exceeds normal salaries back home, and may be the only income option available. This constant availability of labour then allows armed groups to keep the cocaine business going.

Yet this is not just about drugs. As I show in my new book Borderland Battles, the Colombia-Venezuela border features many illicit flows, including of weapons, gasoline and people. These are boosted by the crisis, with more Venezuelan women and children being trafficked.

Furthermore, according to interviewees from the Venezuelan state of Táchira, it is increasingly common to hear Mexican accents in Venezuelan border towns. This reflects the steady expansion of Mexican drug cartels into the region, intensifying violent competition over the business.

Risking peace in Colombia

Upheaval in Venezuela has also intensified the cross-border violence related to Colombia’s armed conflict. While Colombian guerrillas have used Venezuela as a safe haven for decades, their presence in the country has now become more complex.

Despite Colombia’s peace deal with the leftist guerrilla group, FARC, there is ongoing conflict with the ELN rebels, who are believed to operate in 12 Venezuelan states. At the same time, FARC dissidents have expanded their control over gold mining in southern Venezuela, and Colombian right-wing groups occupy Venezuela’s border regions. They gain strength in Venezuela to strike Colombia, while adding to Venezuela’s internal violence as they clash with state forces.

Further afield, incidents such as the US national security advisor writing “5,000 troops to Colombia” on his notepad serve only to escalate tensions.

Back in 2012, a human rights defender in Venezuela explained to me that the country needs to prepare itself for a US invasion, which would start via Colombia. For that reason, there are some who would welcome a FARC presence in Venezuela – as a “buffer”. Such a scenario was engraved in many of my interviewees’ minds, exposing the irresponsibility of reviving such fears.

Meanwhile, bodies of Venezuelan nationals killed in combat between Colombian state forces and guerrillas reveal that young Venezuelans in search of a better future have become easy recruits for the ELN, FARC dissidents, and other Colombian armed groups. Moreover, Venezuelan “colectivos”, radical left-wing groups, have expanded into Colombia’s border region.

Further violent escalation in Venezuela may give rise to a messy cross-border conflict, rather than civil war. Instead of the emergence of clear front lines, the Venezuelan state forces might fragment into factions loyal to Maduro, others supporting Guaidó, and yet others picking their own local leaders whose illicit business interests do not stop at the border, as the aid blockages may indicate.

With Colombia’s peace on shaky grounds and the ELN’s armed struggle continuing, both organised and “disorganised” violence could develop across the two countries.

Border control

The need for action is clear, but there are no easy fixes. Shutting Venezuela’s borders to avoid insecurity from “spilling over” would be irresponsible.

At long borders with rough terrain, such as the Colombian-Venezuelan one that extends 1,378 miles (comparable to the 1,954-mile US-Mexican border), porous areas are inevitable. Violent entrepreneurs use them to their advantage while suffering people are stuck. This happened in 2015 after Maduro closed the border: illicit flows kept thriving, but people’s needs remained unmet.

Even a complete border closure serves to incentivise more illicit cross-border activities because with increased risk comes increased prices and profits. Instead, curbing people’s insecurity amid Venezuela’s turmoil requires a dual approach.

In Venezuela, calls for unity and democracy need to extend to the military to contain violence effectively. In the borderlands, humanitarian assistance to Venezuelan refugees must be combined with long term support for communities to “absorb” them by stepping up the provision of services and sustainable job opportunities.

Sadly, violence knows no borders. But nor do humanitarian principles and solidarity. Venezuela’s political future may still be uncertain, but one thing is sure: turning a blind eye to the border region is no longer an option. Borderland communities’ security must come first.

*Dr Annette Idler is the Director of Studies at the Changing Character of War Centre, and Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford.

(This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/venezuela-a-humanitarian-and-security-crisis-on-the-border-with-colombia-112240">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

*By- Annette Idler As the crisis in Venezuela continues, aid trucks are being blocked at the border with Colombia. But this development isn’t only about the two men claiming to be the country’s rightful president: it’s also about the borderlands themselves.

*By- Annette Idler As the crisis in Venezuela continues, aid trucks are being blocked at the border with Colombia. But this development isn’t only about the two men claiming to be the country’s rightful president: it’s also about the borderlands themselves. The Colombia-Venezuela border is home to some of the worst violence and organised crime in the region. Aid blockages can be seen as yet another manifestation of these problems, with armed groups playing power games at the expense of vulnerable local people. Concerns that Venezuela’s instability could extend beyond its borders have already materialised – 3 million citizens have left the country. Most of them are “absorbed” by borderland communities, pressurising already strained governance systems. As our research shows, the pressure on basic services in these communities that have been deficient anyway – health, access to food and jobs – fuels crime, prostitution, and begging, and deepens social tensions. Together with the xenophobic discourse of right-wing politicians, this becomes an explosive mix. Venezuela’s crisis is also fuelling the expansion of criminal networks that have ruled the region for decades, as they take advantage of the economic crisis along the border. Take cocaine production, for example. Colombian coca cultivation has increased, especially near the border with Venezuela. As one civil society leader from Colombia told our research team, a “labour force from Venezuela is arriving at the coca cultivations”. The money Venezuelans can make in coca farming exceeds normal salaries back home, and may be the only income option available. This constant availability of labour then allows armed groups to keep the cocaine business going. Yet this is not just about drugs. As I show in my new book Borderland Battles, the Colombia-Venezuela border features many illicit flows, including of weapons, gasoline and people. These are boosted by the crisis, with more Venezuelan women and children being trafficked. Furthermore, according to interviewees from the Venezuelan state of Táchira, it is increasingly common to hear Mexican accents in Venezuelan border towns. This reflects the steady expansion of Mexican drug cartels into the region, intensifying violent competition over the business. Risking peace in Colombia Upheaval in Venezuela has also intensified the cross-border violence related to Colombia’s armed conflict. While Colombian guerrillas have used Venezuela as a safe haven for decades, their presence in the country has now become more complex. Despite Colombia’s peace deal with the leftist guerrilla group, FARC, there is ongoing conflict with the ELN rebels, who are believed to operate in 12 Venezuelan states. At the same time, FARC dissidents have expanded their control over gold mining in southern Venezuela, and Colombian right-wing groups occupy Venezuela’s border regions. They gain strength in Venezuela to strike Colombia, while adding to Venezuela’s internal violence as they clash with state forces. Further afield, incidents such as the US national security advisor writing “5,000 troops to Colombia” on his notepad serve only to escalate tensions. Back in 2012, a human rights defender in Venezuela explained to me that the country needs to prepare itself for a US invasion, which would start via Colombia. For that reason, there are some who would welcome a FARC presence in Venezuela – as a “buffer”. Such a scenario was engraved in many of my interviewees’ minds, exposing the irresponsibility of reviving such fears. Meanwhile, bodies of Venezuelan nationals killed in combat between Colombian state forces and guerrillas reveal that young Venezuelans in search of a better future have become easy recruits for the ELN, FARC dissidents, and other Colombian armed groups. Moreover, Venezuelan “colectivos”, radical left-wing groups, have expanded into Colombia’s border region. Further violent escalation in Venezuela may give rise to a messy cross-border conflict, rather than civil war. Instead of the emergence of clear front lines, the Venezuelan state forces might fragment into factions loyal to Maduro, others supporting Guaidó, and yet others picking their own local leaders whose illicit business interests do not stop at the border, as the aid blockages may indicate. With Colombia’s peace on shaky grounds and the ELN’s armed struggle continuing, both organised and “disorganised” violence could develop across the two countries. Border control The need for action is clear, but there are no easy fixes. Shutting Venezuela’s borders to avoid insecurity from “spilling over” would be irresponsible. At long borders with rough terrain, such as the Colombian-Venezuelan one that extends 1,378 miles (comparable to the 1,954-mile US-Mexican border), porous areas are inevitable. Violent entrepreneurs use them to their advantage while suffering people are stuck. This happened in 2015 after Maduro closed the border: illicit flows kept thriving, but people’s needs remained unmet. Even a complete border closure serves to incentivise more illicit cross-border activities because with increased risk comes increased prices and profits. Instead, curbing people’s insecurity amid Venezuela’s turmoil requires a dual approach. In Venezuela, calls for unity and democracy need to extend to the military to contain violence effectively. In the borderlands, humanitarian assistance to Venezuelan refugees must be combined with long term support for communities to “absorb” them by stepping up the provision of services and sustainable job opportunities. Sadly, violence knows no borders. But nor do humanitarian principles and solidarity. Venezuela’s political future may still be uncertain, but one thing is sure: turning a blind eye to the border region is no longer an option. Borderland communities’ security must come first. *Dr Annette Idler is the Director of Studies at the Changing Character of War Centre, and Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford. (This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Venezuela needs to tackle growing humanitarian and security crisis at the border

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday accused the United States and its NATO allies of discussing how to arm the opposition in Venezuela and alleged Washington was deploying special forces and equipment near the South American nation.

Moscow said it had information to back its assertion but did not reveal it or say what it was.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a US&nbsp;humanitarian aid convoy for Venezuela could provoke clashes and create a pretext for removing President Nicolas Maduro, a staunch Russian ally, by force.

A senior US&nbsp;administration official called the assertion a "senseless accusation" distributed by Russia as "propaganda."

"There’s no truth to that," the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday accused the United States and its NATO allies of discussing how to arm the opposition in Venezuela and alleged Washington was deploying special forces and equipment near the South American nation.

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday accused the United States and its NATO allies of discussing how to arm the opposition in Venezuela and alleged Washington was deploying special forces and equipment near the South American nation. Moscow said it had information to back its assertion but did not reveal it or say what it was. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a US humanitarian aid convoy for Venezuela could provoke clashes and create a pretext for removing President Nicolas Maduro, a staunch Russian ally, by force. A senior US administration official called the assertion a "senseless accusation" distributed by Russia as "propaganda." "There’s no truth to that," the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Russia accuses US of planning to arm opposition in Venezuela

The US&nbsp;government could announce new sanctions to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as early as next week unless his military defies orders to block convoys of humanitarian aid planned for this weekend, a senior administration official said on Friday.

US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence and other leaders in the Western Hemisphere will meet in Bogota on Monday. Depending on what happens on Venezuela's borders over the weekend, the leaders could dramatically boost aid pledges to the country - or take new steps to crack down, the official told reporters.

"If there is any type of violence, or if there is any type of negative reaction from the hierarchy of the Venezuela armed forces, there may also be measures that are announced by the vice president and other countries in regards to closing even further the international financial circle," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In a sign of the importance of the issue to the White House, President Donald Trump's top national security adviser John Bolton canceled a weekend trip to South Korea to talk to allies ahead of a summit next week on North Korea's nuclear talks.

Bolton wanted to monitor the unfolding developments in Venezuela, his spokesman Garrett Marquis said.

Pence will lead the US&nbsp;delegation to the meeting of the Lima Group regional bloc, and so far has an "open script" for what he will propose, the official said.

"He has the carrots, but he's also ready with the sticks for those that promote or execute violence," the official said. "That will be announced not only by the United States, but by the rest of the region's democracies."

The United States has stockpiled aid on Colombia's border with Venezuela at the request of opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington and other dozens of other Western governments have recognized as Venezuela's legitimate president since Maduro held elections last year decried as fraudulent.

Despite shortages of food and medicine, Maduro has denied there is a crisis in the country, and says the aid is aimed at undermining his government. He has ordered some of the country's borders closed to keep the aid from entering.

Tensions are running high and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-warns-venezuela-against-lethal-force-on-protesters-199058">there has been some violence</a>. Soldiers killed two people and injured 15 near the border with Brazil on Friday, witnesses said.

The Trump administration last month slapped sanctions on state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela PDVSA.UL, known as PDVSA, to cut Maduro off from his government's main source of revenues.

The administration official declined to comment on future sanctions, but said the United States and other allies are looking at ways to expel family members of Venezuelan military officials who are living outside the country - including some in south Florida.

"They're going to face a situation where they and their families are going to have to go back to Venezuela," he said.

The US&nbsp;official described the aid convoys as a key test for the Venezuelan military as its leaders weigh whether to obey Maduro or Guaido, who has asked the military to let it pass.

"It's really the first order he gives to them as their commander in chief," the US&nbsp;official added. 
&nbsp;

The US government could announce new sanctions to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as early as next week unless his military defies orders to block convoys of humanitarian aid planned for this weekend, a senior administration official said on Friday.

The US government could announce new sanctions to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as early as next week unless his military defies orders to block convoys of humanitarian aid planned for this weekend, a senior administration official said on Friday. US Vice President Mike Pence and other leaders in the Western Hemisphere will meet in Bogota on Monday. Depending on what happens on Venezuela's borders over the weekend, the leaders could dramatically boost aid pledges to the country - or take new steps to crack down, the official told reporters. "If there is any type of violence, or if there is any type of negative reaction from the hierarchy of the Venezuela armed forces, there may also be measures that are announced by the vice president and other countries in regards to closing even further the international financial circle," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. In a sign of the importance of the issue to the White House, President Donald Trump's top national security adviser John Bolton canceled a weekend trip to South Korea to talk to allies ahead of a summit next week on North Korea's nuclear talks. Bolton wanted to monitor the unfolding developments in Venezuela, his spokesman Garrett Marquis said. Pence will lead the US delegation to the meeting of the Lima Group regional bloc, and so far has an "open script" for what he will propose, the official said. "He has the carrots, but he's also ready with the sticks for those that promote or execute violence," the official said. "That will be announced not only by the United States, but by the rest of the region's democracies." The United States has stockpiled aid on Colombia's border with Venezuela at the request of opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington and other dozens of other Western governments have recognized as Venezuela's legitimate president since Maduro held elections last year decried as fraudulent. Despite shortages of food and medicine, Maduro has denied there is a crisis in the country, and says the aid is aimed at undermining his government. He has ordered some of the country's borders closed to keep the aid from entering. Tensions are running high and there has been some violence. Soldiers killed two people and injured 15 near the border with Brazil on Friday, witnesses said. The Trump administration last month slapped sanctions on state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela PDVSA.UL, known as PDVSA, to cut Maduro off from his government's main source of revenues. The administration official declined to comment on future sanctions, but said the United States and other allies are looking at ways to expel family members of Venezuelan military officials who are living outside the country - including some in south Florida. "They're going to face a situation where they and their families are going to have to go back to Venezuela," he said. The US official described the aid convoys as a key test for the Venezuelan military as its leaders weigh whether to obey Maduro or Guaido, who has asked the military to let it pass. "It's really the first order he gives to them as their commander in chief," the US official added.

US threatens new sanctions on Venezuela if aid convoys blocked

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation.

The United States, which is among dozens of nations to recognize <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-opposition-leader-guaido-defies-travel-ban-as-aid-row-turns-deadly-199076">opposition leader Juan Guaido</a> as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend.

With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation.

He says the opposition efforts are a US-backed "cheap show".

The socialist president, who took power in 2013 and was re-elected in an election last year widely viewed as fraudulent, has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed ahead of the opposition's plan to bring in the aid on Saturday. Late on Friday, the government shuttered the Tachira frontier that connects with Cucuta.

Some political analysts say the looming showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty to Maduro by daring it to turn the aid away.

With inflation running at more than 2 million per cent a year and currency controls restricting imports of basic goods, a growing share of the country's roughly 30 million people is suffering from malnutrition.

Guaido showed up late on Friday at a fundraising concert in Cucuta backed by British billionaire Richard Branson that was estimated to have attracted nearly 200,000 people.

His appearance, arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque, was an open challenge to Maduro given that the pro-government Supreme Court has banned him from international travel on grounds he is under investigation for allegedly helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters.

SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE

Friday's violence broke out in the village of Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela after an indigenous community stopped a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil that they believed was attempting to block aid, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado.

Soldiers later entered the village and opened fire, killing a couple and injuring several others, they said. A regional official confirmed that two people were killed.

"I stood up to them to back the humanitarian aid," Fernandez told Reuters. "And they came charging at us. They shot innocent people who were in their homes, working."

Seven of the 15 injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the Brazilian frontier city of Boa Vista, a spokesman for the state governor's office said.

Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Maduro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash of being "violent groups" directed by the opposition.

Venezuelan security forces have executed dozens and detained hundreds of others since protests broke out in January against Maduro's swearing-in, according to civil rights groups.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in New York on Friday and "urged the Venezuelan authorities not to use lethal force against demonstrators," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Asked about the deaths, Arreaza told reporters the armed forces would never take disproportionate action against its own people: "Our armed forces are known for their humanism."

The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, who joined regional leaders and diplomats in Cucuta to show support for the opposition, called the killings "a crime and a disgrace".

"What do we do if the government of Maduro, the former government of Maduro, does not fall tomorrow?" Elliott Abrams said after meeting the presidents of Paraguay and Chile and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

"We continue trying to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela."

China, which along with Russia backs Maduro, warned that humanitarian aid should not be forced across the border because doing so could lead to violence.

BLOODSHED 'NOT IN VAIN'

The bloodshed contrasted with a joyful mood at Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live", where Venezuelan and Colombian attendees, some crying, waved flags and chanted "freedom" under a baking sun.

"Is it too much to ask for freedom after 20 years of ignominy, of a populist Marxist dictatorship?" Venezuelan singer Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez asked. "To the Venezuelans there, don't give up: the blood that has been spilt was not in vain".

Earlier in the day, Branson held a news conference near a never-used border bridge that Venezuelan authorities have blocked with shipping containers.

"What we're hoping is that the authorities in Venezuela will see this wonderful, peaceful concert ... and that the soldiers will do that right thing," Branson said.

As well as the foreign aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Guaido has vowed to bring in aid on Saturday from the Brazilian town of Boa Vista and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

"The people of Venezuela are not begging, they’re resisting a dictatorship, the onslaught of oppression," Guaido told a news conference in Cucuta after the concert. "Tomorrow ... everyone will be on the streets demanding the entry of humanitarian aid, thanking the world for this unprecedented coalition."

Brazil said on Friday it had 200 tonnes of food and medicine ready for Venezuela but only one truck had arrived to pick it up before the border was closed.

Venezuela's borders are porous, however, and supporters could attempt to bring in aid outside the official entry points.

Guaido's move to assume the interim presidency and international backing has galvanized Venezuela's opposition, which has vowed to keep protesting until Maduro steps down. Major protests in 2014 and 2017 waned in the face of crackdowns.

Some government critics are concerned it will take more than the pressure to force Maduro to step down.

"The truth is that not even 10 concerts will make damned Maduro leave office," said Darwin Rendon, one of the 3.4 million Venezuelans to have emigrated since 2015 to find work. He sends what little he earns selling cigarettes to his family in Caracas. "This regime is difficult to remove."

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation.

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation. The United States, which is among dozens of nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend. With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation. He says the opposition efforts are a US-backed "cheap show". The socialist president, who took power in 2013 and was re-elected in an election last year widely viewed as fraudulent, has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed ahead of the opposition's plan to bring in the aid on Saturday. Late on Friday, the government shuttered the Tachira frontier that connects with Cucuta. Some political analysts say the looming showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty to Maduro by daring it to turn the aid away. With inflation running at more than 2 million per cent a year and currency controls restricting imports of basic goods, a growing share of the country's roughly 30 million people is suffering from malnutrition. Guaido showed up late on Friday at a fundraising concert in Cucuta backed by British billionaire Richard Branson that was estimated to have attracted nearly 200,000 people. His appearance, arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque, was an open challenge to Maduro given that the pro-government Supreme Court has banned him from international travel on grounds he is under investigation for allegedly helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters. SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE Friday's violence broke out in the village of Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela after an indigenous community stopped a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil that they believed was attempting to block aid, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado. Soldiers later entered the village and opened fire, killing a couple and injuring several others, they said. A regional official confirmed that two people were killed. "I stood up to them to back the humanitarian aid," Fernandez told Reuters. "And they came charging at us. They shot innocent people who were in their homes, working." Seven of the 15 injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the Brazilian frontier city of Boa Vista, a spokesman for the state governor's office said. Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Maduro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash of being "violent groups" directed by the opposition. Venezuelan security forces have executed dozens and detained hundreds of others since protests broke out in January against Maduro's swearing-in, according to civil rights groups. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in New York on Friday and "urged the Venezuelan authorities not to use lethal force against demonstrators," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Asked about the deaths, Arreaza told reporters the armed forces would never take disproportionate action against its own people: "Our armed forces are known for their humanism." The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, who joined regional leaders and diplomats in Cucuta to show support for the opposition, called the killings "a crime and a disgrace". "What do we do if the government of Maduro, the former government of Maduro, does not fall tomorrow?" Elliott Abrams said after meeting the presidents of Paraguay and Chile and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States. "We continue trying to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela." China, which along with Russia backs Maduro, warned that humanitarian aid should not be forced across the border because doing so could lead to violence. BLOODSHED 'NOT IN VAIN' The bloodshed contrasted with a joyful mood at Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live", where Venezuelan and Colombian attendees, some crying, waved flags and chanted "freedom" under a baking sun. "Is it too much to ask for freedom after 20 years of ignominy, of a populist Marxist dictatorship?" Venezuelan singer Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez asked. "To the Venezuelans there, don't give up: the blood that has been spilt was not in vain". Earlier in the day, Branson held a news conference near a never-used border bridge that Venezuelan authorities have blocked with shipping containers. "What we're hoping is that the authorities in Venezuela will see this wonderful, peaceful concert ... and that the soldiers will do that right thing," Branson said. As well as the foreign aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Guaido has vowed to bring in aid on Saturday from the Brazilian town of Boa Vista and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao. "The people of Venezuela are not begging, they’re resisting a dictatorship, the onslaught of oppression," Guaido told a news conference in Cucuta after the concert. "Tomorrow ... everyone will be on the streets demanding the entry of humanitarian aid, thanking the world for this unprecedented coalition." Brazil said on Friday it had 200 tonnes of food and medicine ready for Venezuela but only one truck had arrived to pick it up before the border was closed. Venezuela's borders are porous, however, and supporters could attempt to bring in aid outside the official entry points. Guaido's move to assume the interim presidency and international backing has galvanized Venezuela's opposition, which has vowed to keep protesting until Maduro steps down. Major protests in 2014 and 2017 waned in the face of crackdowns. Some government critics are concerned it will take more than the pressure to force Maduro to step down. "The truth is that not even 10 concerts will make damned Maduro leave office," said Darwin Rendon, one of the 3.4 million Venezuelans to have emigrated since 2015 to find work. He sends what little he earns selling cigarettes to his family in Caracas. "This regime is difficult to remove."

As tensions over aid rise, Venezuelan troops fire on villagers, two dead

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido claimed the military helped him defy a travel ban by the government of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-warns-venezuela-against-lethal-force-on-protesters-199058">President Nicolas Maduro</a> as he joined thousands over the Colombian border on Friday for a charity concert to push for humanitarian aid deliveries.

Maduro is trying to prevent food and medicines, mainly from the US, from entering the country as tensions over access to the supplies turned deadly elsewhere.

Humanitarian aid has become a key focus of the power struggle between Maduro and Guaido, who has been recognized as interim leader by more than 50 countries.

Guaido delivered a blow to Maduro as he turned up unexpectedly at the concert in the Colombian border town of Cucuta, claiming "the armed forces participated in this process" to help him flout his travel ban.

The powerful military's backing is crucial to the viability of the socialist leader, with defections strengthening Guaido's hand.

The 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly declared himself interim president last month and is calling for fresh polls, branding Maduro a "usurper" and accusing him of rigging his re-election last May.

'Soldiers started shooting'&nbsp;

The tense standoff over aid meanwhile claimed its first casualties Friday as two indigenous people were killed trying to prevent troops from sealing unofficial pathways across the Brazilian border.

"An indigenous woman and her husband were killed and at least 15 other members of the Pemon indigenous community were injured," said a local human rights group, Kape Kape.

The violence occurred in southeastern Bolivar state close to the border with Brazil, which Maduro ordered closed on Thursday.

Guaido called on the military to arrest those responsible for the killings, "or you will be responsible."

"It wasn't a clash, it was an attack," said Salomon Perez, who accompanied a brother and two nieces suffering from gunshot wounds by ambulance to a hospital in Brazil.

"People were in their community, calm. The soldiers came and started shooting at the indigenous people," he said from Roraima state in northern Brazil.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stern statement, warning Venezuelan authorities "not to use lethal force against demonstrators."&nbsp;

Fleeing shortages&nbsp;

The "Venezuela Aid Live" concert in Cucuta was organized by British entrepreneur Richard Branson in support of Guaido's humanitarian aid relief plan.

Guaido appeared alongside Colombian President Ivan Duque, Chile's Sebastian Pinera and Mario Abdo of Paraguay as crowds cheered.

A rival pro-Maduro concert was taking place a few hundred yards away on the Venezuelan side of the border in Urena.

Guaido has set a Saturday deadline for the entry of humanitarian aid, saying as many as 300,000 Venezuelans are in dire need of food and medicines after years of shortages and malnutrition.

Some 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 amid a devastating political and economic crisis, according to UN figures released Friday.

Maduro, who retains the support of allies China and Russia, has blocked the entry of aid and accused the United States of plotting a military intervention.

US special representative Elliott Abrams kept up the foreign pressure on Maduro on Friday, joining a Cucuta-bound plane carrying medical supplies and food.

"The humanitarian and the social-economic situation in Venezuela is very bad, there's a terrible need for food, for supplies, and the international community is responding," Abrams said.&nbsp;

Moscow has blasted Washington for using aid as a "convenient pretext for conducting military action."

'Freedom'

Hundreds chanted "freedom" and "the government is going to fall" while they waited for the Cucuta concert to begin under a hot sun, with the barricaded border crossing visible nearby.

"We must break the impasse, end the humanitarian crisis," billionaire Branson told the crowd shortly before veteran Venezuelan crooner Jose Luis Rodriguez began his set.

Branson said he hopes to raise $100 million for humanitarian aid over the next 60 days via internet donations, though meanwhile aid is being stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the Caribbean island of Curacao because of Maduro's ban.&nbsp;

The line-up included Latin American giants Carlos Vives and Juanes of Colombia, Juan Luis Guerra of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico's Luis Fonsi.

"The concert is an immense help because this type of initiative was necessary to open our eyes and pressure the Venezuelan government," said Wendy Villamizar, a 32-year-old Venezuelan woman wearing a cap with her country's yellow, blue and red tricolor.

Maduro's rival concert, decidedly smaller and featuring Venezuelan and Cuban artists, began hours later.&nbsp;

Performers took to the stage against a giant backdrop emblazoned with the words "#Trump Hands off Venezuela," with around 2,500 people in attendance.

"We don't want to be interfered with, we don't want to be invaded," said Johana Suarez.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido claimed the military helped him defy a travel ban by the government of President Nicolas Maduro as he joined thousands over the Colombian border on Friday for a charity concert to push for humanitarian aid deliveries.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido claimed the military helped him defy a travel ban by the government of President Nicolas Maduro as he joined thousands over the Colombian border on Friday for a charity concert to push for humanitarian aid deliveries. Maduro is trying to prevent food and medicines, mainly from the US, from entering the country as tensions over access to the supplies turned deadly elsewhere. Humanitarian aid has become a key focus of the power struggle between Maduro and Guaido, who has been recognized as interim leader by more than 50 countries. Guaido delivered a blow to Maduro as he turned up unexpectedly at the concert in the Colombian border town of Cucuta, claiming "the armed forces participated in this process" to help him flout his travel ban. The powerful military's backing is crucial to the viability of the socialist leader, with defections strengthening Guaido's hand. The 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly declared himself interim president last month and is calling for fresh polls, branding Maduro a "usurper" and accusing him of rigging his re-election last May. 'Soldiers started shooting' The tense standoff over aid meanwhile claimed its first casualties Friday as two indigenous people were killed trying to prevent troops from sealing unofficial pathways across the Brazilian border. "An indigenous woman and her husband were killed and at least 15 other members of the Pemon indigenous community were injured," said a local human rights group, Kape Kape. The violence occurred in southeastern Bolivar state close to the border with Brazil, which Maduro ordered closed on Thursday. Guaido called on the military to arrest those responsible for the killings, "or you will be responsible." "It wasn't a clash, it was an attack," said Salomon Perez, who accompanied a brother and two nieces suffering from gunshot wounds by ambulance to a hospital in Brazil. "People were in their community, calm. The soldiers came and started shooting at the indigenous people," he said from Roraima state in northern Brazil. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stern statement, warning Venezuelan authorities "not to use lethal force against demonstrators." Fleeing shortages The "Venezuela Aid Live" concert in Cucuta was organized by British entrepreneur Richard Branson in support of Guaido's humanitarian aid relief plan. Guaido appeared alongside Colombian President Ivan Duque, Chile's Sebastian Pinera and Mario Abdo of Paraguay as crowds cheered. A rival pro-Maduro concert was taking place a few hundred yards away on the Venezuelan side of the border in Urena. Guaido has set a Saturday deadline for the entry of humanitarian aid, saying as many as 300,000 Venezuelans are in dire need of food and medicines after years of shortages and malnutrition. Some 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 amid a devastating political and economic crisis, according to UN figures released Friday. Maduro, who retains the support of allies China and Russia, has blocked the entry of aid and accused the United States of plotting a military intervention. US special representative Elliott Abrams kept up the foreign pressure on Maduro on Friday, joining a Cucuta-bound plane carrying medical supplies and food. "The humanitarian and the social-economic situation in Venezuela is very bad, there's a terrible need for food, for supplies, and the international community is responding," Abrams said. Moscow has blasted Washington for using aid as a "convenient pretext for conducting military action." 'Freedom' Hundreds chanted "freedom" and "the government is going to fall" while they waited for the Cucuta concert to begin under a hot sun, with the barricaded border crossing visible nearby. "We must break the impasse, end the humanitarian crisis," billionaire Branson told the crowd shortly before veteran Venezuelan crooner Jose Luis Rodriguez began his set. Branson said he hopes to raise $100 million for humanitarian aid over the next 60 days via internet donations, though meanwhile aid is being stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the Caribbean island of Curacao because of Maduro's ban. The line-up included Latin American giants Carlos Vives and Juanes of Colombia, Juan Luis Guerra of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico's Luis Fonsi. "The concert is an immense help because this type of initiative was necessary to open our eyes and pressure the Venezuelan government," said Wendy Villamizar, a 32-year-old Venezuelan woman wearing a cap with her country's yellow, blue and red tricolor. Maduro's rival concert, decidedly smaller and featuring Venezuelan and Cuban artists, began hours later. Performers took to the stage against a giant backdrop emblazoned with the words "#Trump Hands off Venezuela," with around 2,500 people in attendance. "We don't want to be interfered with, we don't want to be invaded," said Johana Suarez.

Venezuela's opposition leader Guaido defies travel ban as aid row turns deadly

Venezuelan security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday to disperse a crowd demanding to cross the Venezuela-Colombia border, ordered closed by President Nicolas Maduro as tensions in the Latin American country soared ahead of an opposition deadline to bring in humanitarian aid.

"We want to work!" people chanted as they faced Venezuelan National Guard riot police blocking the crossing at the Urena border brige to Colombia, one of several ordered closed Maduro late Friday.&nbsp;

Also report: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelan-troops-fire-tear-gas-at-colombian-border-report-199168">Venezuelan troops fire tear gas at </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelan-troops-fire-tear-gas-at-colombian-border-report-199168">Colombian</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelan-troops-fire-tear-gas-at-colombian-border-report-199168"> border</a>

Meanwhile, four National Guard troops deserted their posts near the border, one greeted by a crowd of cheering Venezuelans on the Colombian side as he walked across. Three others smashed through a security barrier on the Simon Bolivar bridge crossing in their jeep.

Supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido in Colombia are planning to cross the border carrying emergency supplies into Venezuela. Guaido has vowed humanitarian aid would enter his country despite a blockade.

Socialist leader Maduro has rejected the aid, which he's dismissed as a show and pretext for a US invasion.

Humanitarian aid has become the centrepiece of the stand-off between Maduro and Guaido, the 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly who declared himself interim president exactly one month ago Saturday. Guaido has accused Maduro of rigging his re-election and is demanding a new vote.

Venezuela is gripped by a humanitarian crisis that has seen poverty soar during years of recession.

As many as 300,000 Venezuelans are in dire need of food and medicine after years of shortages and malnutrition, according to Guaido.

United Nations figures show that some 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 amid the crisis, and some 5,000 Venezuelans emigrate from their country each day.

On the eve of the face-off, Guaido defied a government ban on leaving the country and attended the "Venezuela Live Aid" concert organized by British billionaire Richard Branson just over the border in Colombia. The concert is aimed at raising funds to help the relief effort.

Guaido sensationally claimed that the Venezuelan military, whose high command has repeatedly declared absolute loyalty to Maduro, "participated in this process" to get him into Colombia.

Hours later, Caracas said it had closed much of the Colombian border, citing threats to Venezuela's security.

Guaido said that aid would come in on Saturday regardless of any military blockade.

His supporters plan to drive the aid from Colombia into Venezuela at the closed border crossings supported by a flood of volunteers and accompanied by Catholic priests in an attempt to avoid arrest.

Colombia and Venezuela share a 2,200 kilometer-long (1,370 miles) border, and trucks carrying aid could also drive across some of the countless illegal dirt roads that link the two countries across the porous border.

Two killed

On Friday the tense stand-off turned deadly when two people were killed and 15 wounded as they tried to prevent Venezuelan troops from blocking an entry point on the Brazilian border.

"An indigenous woman and her husband were killed and at least 15 other members of the Pemon indigenous community were injured," said a local human rights group, Kape Kape.

The clash occurred in southeastern Bolivar state near to the border with Brazil, which Maduro ordered closed on Thursday.

Guaido called on the military to arrest those responsible for the killings, "or you will be responsible."

"It wasn't a clash, it was an attack," said Salomon Perez, who accompanied a brother and two nieces suffering from gunshot wounds by ambulance to a hospital in Brazil.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Venezuelan authorities to refrain from using lethal force against protesters.

The United States "strongly condemns the Venezuelan military's use of force against unarmed civilians and innocent volunteers" on the border with Brazil, the White House said. "The world is watching," the statement added.

Early Saturday two large trucks carrying eight tonnes of emergency aid left Boa Vista in Brazil en route to the Venezuelan border. The vehicles are driven by Venezuelans and escorted by Brazilian police, organizers said.

Battle of the bands

The "Venezuela Live Aid" concert, which featured some of the biggest names in Spanish-language music, was broadcast live online.

Branson said he hopes to raise $100 million for humanitarian aid over the next 60 days via internet donations. Meanwhile, aid is being stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the Caribbean island of Curacao because of Maduro's ban.

Guaido rallied his supporters when he showed up at the concert on Friday joined by Colombian President Ivan Duque, Chile's Sebastian Pinera and Mario Abdo of Paraguay. The leaders greeted the crowd before the concert ended.

Maduro's rival concert, decidedly smaller and featuring Cuban and local artists, began hours later nearby on the Venezuelan side of the border in Urena.&nbsp;

Performers took to the stage against a giant backdrop emblazoned with the words "#Trump Hands off Venezuela," with around 2,500 people in attendance.

"We don't want to be interfered with, we don't want to be invaded," said Johana Suarez.

Maduro said the event would last until Sunday.

Maduro, who has support from China, Russia and the military high command, accuses the United States of plotting a military intervention.

Moscow has blasted Washington for using aid as a "convenient pretext for conducting military action."

Venezuelan security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday to disperse a crowd demanding to cross the Venezuela-Colombia border, ordered closed by President Nicolas Maduro as tensions in the Latin American country soared ahead of an opposition deadline to bring in humanitarian aid.

Venezuelan security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday to disperse a crowd demanding to cross the Venezuela-Colombia border, ordered closed by President Nicolas Maduro as tensions in the Latin American country soared ahead of an opposition deadline to bring in humanitarian aid. "We want to work!" people chanted as they faced Venezuelan National Guard riot police blocking the crossing at the Urena border brige to Colombia, one of several ordered closed Maduro late Friday. Also report: Venezuelan troops fire tear gas at Colombian border Meanwhile, four National Guard troops deserted their posts near the border, one greeted by a crowd of cheering Venezuelans on the Colombian side as he walked across. Three others smashed through a security barrier on the Simon Bolivar bridge crossing in their jeep. Supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido in Colombia are planning to cross the border carrying emergency supplies into Venezuela. Guaido has vowed humanitarian aid would enter his country despite a blockade. Socialist leader Maduro has rejected the aid, which he's dismissed as a show and pretext for a US invasion. Humanitarian aid has become the centrepiece of the stand-off between Maduro and Guaido, the 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly who declared himself interim president exactly one month ago Saturday. Guaido has accused Maduro of rigging his re-election and is demanding a new vote. Venezuela is gripped by a humanitarian crisis that has seen poverty soar during years of recession. As many as 300,000 Venezuelans are in dire need of food and medicine after years of shortages and malnutrition, according to Guaido. United Nations figures show that some 2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015 amid the crisis, and some 5,000 Venezuelans emigrate from their country each day. On the eve of the face-off, Guaido defied a government ban on leaving the country and attended the "Venezuela Live Aid" concert organized by British billionaire Richard Branson just over the border in Colombia. The concert is aimed at raising funds to help the relief effort. Guaido sensationally claimed that the Venezuelan military, whose high command has repeatedly declared absolute loyalty to Maduro, "participated in this process" to get him into Colombia. Hours later, Caracas said it had closed much of the Colombian border, citing threats to Venezuela's security. Guaido said that aid would come in on Saturday regardless of any military blockade. His supporters plan to drive the aid from Colombia into Venezuela at the closed border crossings supported by a flood of volunteers and accompanied by Catholic priests in an attempt to avoid arrest. Colombia and Venezuela share a 2,200 kilometer-long (1,370 miles) border, and trucks carrying aid could also drive across some of the countless illegal dirt roads that link the two countries across the porous border. Two killed On Friday the tense stand-off turned deadly when two people were killed and 15 wounded as they tried to prevent Venezuelan troops from blocking an entry point on the Brazilian border. "An indigenous woman and her husband were killed and at least 15 other members of the Pemon indigenous community were injured," said a local human rights group, Kape Kape. The clash occurred in southeastern Bolivar state near to the border with Brazil, which Maduro ordered closed on Thursday. Guaido called on the military to arrest those responsible for the killings, "or you will be responsible." "It wasn't a clash, it was an attack," said Salomon Perez, who accompanied a brother and two nieces suffering from gunshot wounds by ambulance to a hospital in Brazil. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Venezuelan authorities to refrain from using lethal force against protesters. The United States "strongly condemns the Venezuelan military's use of force against unarmed civilians and innocent volunteers" on the border with Brazil, the White House said. "The world is watching," the statement added. Early Saturday two large trucks carrying eight tonnes of emergency aid left Boa Vista in Brazil en route to the Venezuelan border. The vehicles are driven by Venezuelans and escorted by Brazilian police, organizers said. Battle of the bands The "Venezuela Live Aid" concert, which featured some of the biggest names in Spanish-language music, was broadcast live online. Branson said he hopes to raise $100 million for humanitarian aid over the next 60 days via internet donations. Meanwhile, aid is being stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the Caribbean island of Curacao because of Maduro's ban. Guaido rallied his supporters when he showed up at the concert on Friday joined by Colombian President Ivan Duque, Chile's Sebastian Pinera and Mario Abdo of Paraguay. The leaders greeted the crowd before the concert ended. Maduro's rival concert, decidedly smaller and featuring Cuban and local artists, began hours later nearby on the Venezuelan side of the border in Urena. Performers took to the stage against a giant backdrop emblazoned with the words "#Trump Hands off Venezuela," with around 2,500 people in attendance. "We don't want to be interfered with, we don't want to be invaded," said Johana Suarez. Maduro said the event would last until Sunday. Maduro, who has support from China, Russia and the military high command, accuses the United States of plotting a military intervention. Moscow has blasted Washington for using aid as a "convenient pretext for conducting military action."

Venezuela set for aid showdown as Guaido claims military help

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged authorities in Venezuela not to use lethal force against protesters, after soldiers shot dead two indigenous people who were attempting to prevent the sealing of a border crossing to Brazil.

"The UN will continue to act in accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, working with Venezuelan institutions, to assist people in need," Guterres added in a statement following a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.

An indigenous woman and her husband were killed and at least 15 other members of the Pemon indigenous community were injured in their clash with soldiers, rights group Kape Kape said.

The clash occurred in southeastern Bolivar state close to the border with Brazil, which President Nicolas Maduro ordered closed on Thursday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged authorities in Venezuela not to use lethal force against protesters, after soldiers shot dead two indigenous people who were attempting to prevent the sealing of a border crossing to Brazil.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged authorities in Venezuela not to use lethal force against protesters, after soldiers shot dead two indigenous people who were attempting to prevent the sealing of a border crossing to Brazil. "The UN will continue to act in accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, working with Venezuelan institutions, to assist people in need," Guterres added in a statement following a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. An indigenous woman and her husband were killed and at least 15 other members of the Pemon indigenous community were injured in their clash with soldiers, rights group Kape Kape said. The clash occurred in southeastern Bolivar state close to the border with Brazil, which President Nicolas Maduro ordered closed on Thursday.

UN chief warns Maduro government against lethal force on protesters

The Venezuelan government completely closed its border with Colombia in the face of alleged threats to its sovereignty from the neighboring country, from where the opposition plans to take in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-threatens-new-sanctions-on-venezuela-if-aid-convoys-blocked-top-official-199117">humanitarian aid from several countries</a> that is currently stored in Cucuta city, the authorities said.

The step was taken hours after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered communications to be shut off with Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao islands and closed the border with Brazil, to stop the entry of humanitarian aid amassed there.

"The government informs the people that, due to the serious and illegal threats attempted by the Government of Colombia against the peace and sovereignty of Venezuela, it has taken the decision of a temporary total closure of the Simon Bolivar, Santander and Union bridges!" Vice President Delcy Rodriguez tweeted.

She said that the Colombian government of Ivan Duque is acting against the rights of Venezuelans to live in peace and sovereignty at the orders of the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

She added that the border normality will be restored as soon as the gross acts of violence - which Caracas has alleged were generated from Bogota - is controlled.

The shutdown was expected after Maduro said on Thursday that closing the Venezuelan border with Colombia was being contemplated, where billionaire Richard Branson has organized a solidarity concert aimed at raising millions in donations to fund humanitarian assistance in Venezuela.

Moreover, Maduro has frequently accused the Colombian government of scheming in war plans along with the US to take down the socialist policies which were implemented in 1999, and ordered a special deployment of armed forces to secure the region.

The opposition has said that it will take the humanitarian aid contributed by several countries to Venezuela on Saturday despite Maduro's attempts to block its entry.

Miguel Pizarro, the opposition leader in charge of bringing in the humanitarian aid, said on Friday that the opposition is ready to take in the donations through several corridors that join Colombia and Venezuela.

But Maduro has said that he will not accept the aid, called it "rotten donations" and alleged that it carries "the venom of humiliation".

The aid has been gathered in the Colombian border city of Cucuta, the Brazilian state of Roraima and the island of Curaçao.

Venezuela's long-simmering political crisis moved into a more acute phase on January&nbsp;23 with Guaido's claim to be the country's legitimate leader after calling Maduro's election illegitimate following his re-election on May 20, 2018.

A large part of the international community - including the US, several European and Latin American countries - supports Guaido and is pressing for fresh elections in the country.

The Venezuelan government completely closed its border with Colombia in the face of alleged threats to its sovereignty from the neighboring country, from where the opposition plans to take in humanitarian aid from several countries that is currently stored in Cucuta city, the authorities said.

The Venezuelan government completely closed its border with Colombia in the face of alleged threats to its sovereignty from the neighboring country, from where the opposition plans to take in humanitarian aid from several countries that is currently stored in Cucuta city, the authorities said. The step was taken hours after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered communications to be shut off with Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao islands and closed the border with Brazil, to stop the entry of humanitarian aid amassed there. "The government informs the people that, due to the serious and illegal threats attempted by the Government of Colombia against the peace and sovereignty of Venezuela, it has taken the decision of a temporary total closure of the Simon Bolivar, Santander and Union bridges!" Vice President Delcy Rodriguez tweeted. She said that the Colombian government of Ivan Duque is acting against the rights of Venezuelans to live in peace and sovereignty at the orders of the President of the United States, Donald Trump. She added that the border normality will be restored as soon as the gross acts of violence - which Caracas has alleged were generated from Bogota - is controlled. The shutdown was expected after Maduro said on Thursday that closing the Venezuelan border with Colombia was being contemplated, where billionaire Richard Branson has organized a solidarity concert aimed at raising millions in donations to fund humanitarian assistance in Venezuela. Moreover, Maduro has frequently accused the Colombian government of scheming in war plans along with the US to take down the socialist policies which were implemented in 1999, and ordered a special deployment of armed forces to secure the region. The opposition has said that it will take the humanitarian aid contributed by several countries to Venezuela on Saturday despite Maduro's attempts to block its entry. Miguel Pizarro, the opposition leader in charge of bringing in the humanitarian aid, said on Friday that the opposition is ready to take in the donations through several corridors that join Colombia and Venezuela. But Maduro has said that he will not accept the aid, called it "rotten donations" and alleged that it carries "the venom of humiliation". The aid has been gathered in the Colombian border city of Cucuta, the Brazilian state of Roraima and the island of Curaçao. Venezuela's long-simmering political crisis moved into a more acute phase on January 23 with Guaido's claim to be the country's legitimate leader after calling Maduro's election illegitimate following his re-election on May 20, 2018. A large part of the international community - including the US, several European and Latin American countries - supports Guaido and is pressing for fresh elections in the country.

In face of alleged threats, Maduro government 'completely' shuts Venezuela's border with Colombia

Venezuela: Prez Maduro threatens to shut borders to block humanitarian aid

Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as "premature" and said it "wouldn't make sense."

"I think they're more in the realm of rhetoric than action," Mourao said, referring to the threats, in an interview with AFP.

"The Venezuela question needs to be resolved by Venezuelans."

Mourao's comments came after Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro announced earlier that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-starts-shutting-borders-to-block-humanitarian-aid-198833">border with Brazil would be shut</a> "completely and absolutely" until further notice from 8:00 pm.

But Mourao said that "doesn't signify an act of aggression."

"This reaction is simply a way to prevent the humanitarian aid process," he said, adding that Venezuela "has the right to whatever it wants on its side of the border."

President Jair Bolsonaro's spokesman Otavio Rego Barros also dismissed the possibility of Maduro's decision causing "frictions" between the neighbors.

Maduro's move came two days before a deadline set by opposition leader Juan Guaido for humanitarian aid stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the island of Curacao to be brought into Venezuela.

The self-proclaimed acting president, recognized as such by 50 countries, set out in a convoy of vehicles from Caracas towards the border with Colombia on Thursday to personally take charge of the aid entry.

A bridge border crossing between the two countries remains blocked by the military, though, with Maduro vowing not to let it in.

The embattled socialist leader also said on Thursday he was considering "a total closure of the border with Colombia."

The issue of aid has taken center stage in the power-struggle between Maduro and Guaido, the president of the opposition controlled National Assembly legislature.

Guaido has branded Maduro a usurper over his controversial reelection last May in polls boycotted by the opposition, many of whose leaders were unable to stand due to being imprisoned, barred or in exile.

The 35-year-old Guido wants to force out Maduro, 56, so he can set up a transitional government ahead of new elections. 
&nbsp;

Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as "premature" and said it "wouldn't make sense." "I think they're more in the realm of rhetoric than action," Mourao said, referring to the threats, in an interview with AFP.

Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as "premature" and said it "wouldn't make sense." "I think they're more in the realm of rhetoric than action," Mourao said, referring to the threats, in an interview with AFP. "The Venezuela question needs to be resolved by Venezuelans." Mourao's comments came after Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro announced earlier that the border with Brazil would be shut "completely and absolutely" until further notice from 8:00 pm. But Mourao said that "doesn't signify an act of aggression." "This reaction is simply a way to prevent the humanitarian aid process," he said, adding that Venezuela "has the right to whatever it wants on its side of the border." President Jair Bolsonaro's spokesman Otavio Rego Barros also dismissed the possibility of Maduro's decision causing "frictions" between the neighbors. Maduro's move came two days before a deadline set by opposition leader Juan Guaido for humanitarian aid stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the island of Curacao to be brought into Venezuela. The self-proclaimed acting president, recognized as such by 50 countries, set out in a convoy of vehicles from Caracas towards the border with Colombia on Thursday to personally take charge of the aid entry. A bridge border crossing between the two countries remains blocked by the military, though, with Maduro vowing not to let it in. The embattled socialist leader also said on Thursday he was considering "a total closure of the border with Colombia." The issue of aid has taken center stage in the power-struggle between Maduro and Guaido, the president of the opposition controlled National Assembly legislature. Guaido has branded Maduro a usurper over his controversial reelection last May in polls boycotted by the opposition, many of whose leaders were unable to stand due to being imprisoned, barred or in exile. The 35-year-old Guido wants to force out Maduro, 56, so he can set up a transitional government ahead of new elections.

US military intervention in Venezuela 'wouldn't make sense': Brazil's Vice President

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said.

The 35-minute meeting at UN headquarters was requested by Pompeo.

Pompeo and the UN chief "discussed the situation in Yemen, in particular the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the importance of the parties to begin phase 1 of the redeployment from Hodeida," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"They also discussed the situation in Venezuela and the region", he added, without providing details.&nbsp;

Yemen's government and Huthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a redeployment of forces from the Red Sea port of Hodeida, in line with a ceasefire deal reached in Sweden in December.

The port is the entry point for the bulk of humanitarian aid and supplies to Yemen, where millions are on the brink of famine.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Tuesday that he expected the pullback of forces to begin in the coming days, but by Thursday there had been no movement on the ground.&nbsp;

On Venezuela, the UN chief has called for serious political negotiations to end a standoff between leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, and President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States is leading a push to recognize Guaido, backed by about 50 countries including Britain, France, Germany and several Latin American nations such as Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. &nbsp;

Fears are growing of a violent confrontation over Guaido's bid to bring US humanitarian aid into the country from Colombia, in defiance of the government which accuses Washington of using aid for regime change.&nbsp;

The United Nations has said that aid should not be politicized.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said. The 35-minute meeting at UN headquarters was requested by Pompeo. Pompeo and the UN chief "discussed the situation in Yemen, in particular the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the importance of the parties to begin phase 1 of the redeployment from Hodeida," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "They also discussed the situation in Venezuela and the region", he added, without providing details. Yemen's government and Huthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a redeployment of forces from the Red Sea port of Hodeida, in line with a ceasefire deal reached in Sweden in December. The port is the entry point for the bulk of humanitarian aid and supplies to Yemen, where millions are on the brink of famine. UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Tuesday that he expected the pullback of forces to begin in the coming days, but by Thursday there had been no movement on the ground. On Venezuela, the UN chief has called for serious political negotiations to end a standoff between leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, and President Nicolas Maduro. The United States is leading a push to recognize Guaido, backed by about 50 countries including Britain, France, Germany and several Latin American nations such as Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Fears are growing of a violent confrontation over Guaido's bid to bring US humanitarian aid into the country from Colombia, in defiance of the government which accuses Washington of using aid for regime change. The United Nations has said that aid should not be politicized.

Pompeo discusses Yemen, Venezuela in talks with UN chief

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