Pompeo warns Venezuela’s Maduro against use of force

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today warned Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro not to use force against mass demonstrations and urged further international support for the self-declared acting president.

A day after the United States and major Latin American nations recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the acting president, Pompeo pressed his case at a special meeting of the Organization of American States.

“The time for debate is done. The regime of former president Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate,” Pompeo said.

“His regime is morally bankrupt, it’s economically incompetent, and it is profoundly corrupt, and it is undemocratic to the core,” he said.

Pompeo demanded that the military, whose leadership has confirmed its loyalty to Maduro, protect Guaido, a day after deadly street clashes.

“I reiterate our warning about any decision by remnant elements of the Maduro regime to use violence to repress the peaceful democratic transition,” Pompeo said.

Pompeo urged all members of the Organization of American States to recognize Guaido.

The most notable holdout is Mexico, whose new leftist president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has pledged a foreign policy of non-intervention.

“All OAS member states must align themselves with democracy and respect for the rule of law,” Pompeo said.

His remarks were followed by a protest as Medea Benjamin, the co-founder of peace group Code Pink who frequently disrupts official events, held up a banner that said, “Don’t support the coup in Venezuela.”

Pompeo remained seated, offering a slight smile, as Benjamin was told that the protest was not allowed.

The United States argues that Maduro’s re-election last year was invalid due to widespread irregularities. Maduro had declared the National Assembly, led by Guaido’s opposition, to be illegitimate.

Pompeo also announced $20 million in humanitarian assistance for Venezuela “as soon as logistically possible” in response to what he said was a request from the National Assembly.

Venezuela has suffered hyperinflation and scarcities of basic food and medicine amid an economic crisis in which millions have fled the country.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin today called Maduro and expressed support, the Kremlin said.

“The President of Russia expressed support for the legitimate authorities of Venezuela in the context of a domestic political crisis that has been provoked from the outside,” it said.

Putin said that any intervention by other countries “violates the fundamental norms of international law,” according to the statement.

According to the Kremlin, Maduro thanked Russia for its “principled position” on the ongoing crisis.

Moscow has warned Washington against any attempts to militarily intervene in Venezuela.

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