Caracas, February 20 (RHC)-- Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez says the country’s troops will remain stationed along the borders to prevent any territorial violations amid a constant threat of military intervention by the United States to overthrow the elected government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Washington has expressed its “full support” for the country’s defunct National Assembly as “the only democratically elected institution” and its 35-year-old head Juan Guaido, who has proclaimed himself the “interim president” of Venezuela. The White House has also called on other countries to follow suit in recognizing Guaido as "president."
The U.S.-backed opposition figure is planning to bring in so-called ‘humanitarian aid’ from neighboring countries by land and sea on Saturday, using it as a provocation that could lead to a military intervention by the United States and Colombia.
In comments broadcast on state TV on Tuesday, Padrino said it was unacceptable for the military to receive threats from US President Donald Trump, stressing that officers and troopers remained “obedient and subordinate” to Maduro.
“They will never accept orders from any foreign government ... they will remain deployed and alert along the borders, as our commander in chief has ordered, to avoid any violations of our territory’s integrity,” the Venezuelan defense minister added. Referring to Guaido, Padrino said: “Those who attempt to be president here in Venezuela ... will have to pass over our dead bodies.”
In related news, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced Wednesday the suspension of flights and closure of Venezuelan borders with the island of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire in response to the interventionist threats that the South American country is experiencing.
Rodriguez urged that "the best humanitarian aid they can give the people of Venezuela is to return the resources, which they are stealing," rebuking the United States and the economic blockades that affect the country. She added said the government extends an invitation to the right-wing opposition for restoring dialogue and resuming diplomatic mechanisms, an invitation that has repeatedly made the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
On Monday, Trump reiterated that his administration stood behind Guaido and called on the military to allow humanitarian aid into the country.
Maduro was quick in responding to the U.S. president’s comments, saying what Washington and the Venezuelan opposition call a humanitarian crisis “is nothing but a cover-up for military plans of the Trump government.”
