Venezuela's Maduro Breaks Off Diplomatic Ties with U.S.
Steve Herman – VOA News
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is breaking off diplomatic relations with the United States and is giving embassy personnel 72 hours to get out of the country.
Maduro made his announcement Wednesday hours after President Donald Trump officially recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim leader and issued a blunt warning Maduro.
"We're not considering anything but all options are on the table," if there is not a peaceful transition to democracy in the South American country, Trump told reporters.
Trump's announcement came shortly after the Guaido, the opposition politician declared himself president during a day of mass demonstrations in the South American country against Maduro.
"Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela," Trump said in a statement.
The U.S. has officially recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president after the opposition politician declared himself president during a day of mass demonstrations in the South American country.https://t.co/rwcRUoWJkw pic.twitter.com/fCmNixu2Fb
— The Voice of America (@VOANews) January 23, 2019
White House officials emphasized that while Trump is not ruling out any response, such as a naval blockade or other military responses if Maduro unleashes violence against protesters or takes action against Guaido.
The most immediate action by Washington likely will be enhanced sanctions against members of Maduro's government.
"In our sanctions, we've barely scratched the surface on what actions the United States can take," said a senior administration official.
The Trump administration also is likely to impose new sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector if the political situation in Caracas deteriorates this week.
In addition, Washington is directly applying pressure on Maduro to give up the presidency as he faces mounting global criticism following his reelection last year that was widely considered illegitimate.
"We call on Maduro to step aside in favor of a legitimate leader reflecting the will of the Venezuelan people," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement.
The United States also wants other countries to recognize Guaido. Canada is indicating it will do so while officials in Mexico are stating they are not expecting their government to take any such immediate steps.
"From a constitutional, humanitarian, and democratic perspective — and according to international law — there was no option left for the United States and the international community but to recognize Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela." Moises Rendon, associate director and associate fellow of the CSIS Americas Program, tells VOA.
The citizens of Venezuela have suffered for too long at the hands of the illegitimate Maduro regime. Today, I have officially recognized the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela. https://t.co/WItWPiG9jK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2019
Trump's recognition of Guaido as Venezuela's president is a "big and courageous move," tweeted Dany Bahar, who is a Venezuelan economist and scholar at the Brookings Institution.
The U.S. action, according to Bahar, opens the door for the Venezuelan opposition to have an ambassador recognized by Washington and deal with the country's bondholders.
Venezuela and its state-owned oil company, PDVSA, are estimated to owe $7 billion on a combined trade debt of about $60 billion. The country's oil-based economy, which is wracked by hyper-inflation, has collapsed.
Police lined streets and bridges in Caracas as opposition protesters threw objects at them and chanted "Get out Maduro" and other slogans.
In the middle-class neighborhood of El Paraiso, National Guard troops launched tear gas at protesters who say they are angry over rising inflation, a shortage of basic goods and a migration crisis that has divided families.
Counter-protests also have been organized by the Venezuelan government, which has accused the opposition of provoking violence.
Wednesday's protests coincide with the 61st anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew military dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez.
The anti-government protests are a crucial test for Guaido, the newly installed leader of Congress. Guaido and his followers hope to get the poor and the military to shift loyalties to their opposition movement.
Any government change, however, depends on the allegiance of the armed forces, which have supported Maduro through two waves of street protests and an ongoing deconstruction of democratic institutions.
Guaido has called on the military to repudiate Maduro and promised amnesty to those who help work toward restoring democracy.