President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuela could face further US military intervention if the interim government does not meet American demands. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said the US might launch a second strike if remaining members of the administration fail to cooperate with efforts to 'fix' the country.
The warning came after the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro, who was abducted on Saturday. Trump initially said the US would 'run' the South American nation of 30 million people, but the prospect of direct control receded after interim president Delcy Rodríguez appeared to adopt a conciliatory tone. Rodríguez, who pledged fealty to Maduro a day earlier, called for a 'balanced and respectful' relationship with the US.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Rodríguez, who reportedly said 'we'll do whatever you need', according to Trump. Rubio downplayed the possibility of an invasion, but confirmed that the US is maintaining a 15,000-strong military presence in the Caribbean as a 'quarantine' to block oil tankers under sanctions. He said the US would judge Venezuela by its actions, not its words.
In Caracas, senior government and military figures demanded Maduro's return but pledged support for Rodríguez as a stand-in leader. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López called for a return to normality, while Maduro's son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, vowed that supporters would take to the streets and unite to bring his father back.
Trump also raised the possibility of military action in Colombia and Mexico if they do not reduce drug flows to the US. He suggested 'Operation Colombia sounds good to me' and commented that Cuba 'looks like it's ready to fall' without US intervention. The Cuban government confirmed that 32 of its military and police officers were killed during the US operation in Venezuela.
The governments of Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay issued a joint statement condemning the US actions as 'an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security'. Trump additionally reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, prompting a protest from Greenland's prime minister.
