In an interview with the newspaper New York Postthe President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Saturday (3) that Washington is ready to launch a “much larger” offensive in Venezuela if Vice President Delcy Rodríguez does not cooperate with the American government. According to Trump, the US will not send troops or carry out new attacks if there is collaboration on the part of the Chavista leader, who currently commands the Venezuelan government after the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas.
According to the American president, the military alternative remains on the table. Trump told the newspaper that the United States Armed Forces are prepared for a second wave of attacks “much bigger than the first”, an operation during which Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured. According to the report, the decision to move forward will depend on the stance adopted by Delcy Rodríguez in the face of Washington’s demands.
In the same interview, Trump stated that he does not intend to intervene militarily in Cuba. According to him, the Cuban regime “will fall by itself”, due to the economic crisis and the loss of financial support from Venezuela.
“Cuba is in a very bad situation. It has always depended a lot on Venezuela,” said the president, according to the publication.
Meanwhile, in Caracas, the Venezuelan vice president declared, in a statement broadcast on national television this afternoon, that the dictator Maduro remains “the only president of Venezuela” and demanded the immediate release of him and Cilia Flores.
According to information released by the broadcaster TeleSURRodríguez remains in Venezuela, contradicting versions that indicated his presence abroad. In the same statement, she announced the sending of a decree of state of external commotion to the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela, with a request for the court to declare its constitutionality and authorize its execution. According to Delcy Rodríguez, the decree – which, according to her, was previously signed by Maduro – grants extraordinary powers to the Executive to mobilize the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB), take immediate control of public services and the hydrocarbon industry, in addition to activating internal security plans. The full text of the document, however, was not released.
Also according to official statements, the Nation’s Defense Council has already been activated and is awaiting the decision of the court’s Constitutional Chamber so that the planned measures can come into force. Venezuelan authorities have not clarified who will formally execute the decree in Maduro’s absence.
Maduro and Cilia Flores are already in New York, where they are expected to be formally prosecuted by the US courts.
