Russia to boost Venezuela ties amid US pressure

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51423110

During his State of the Union, Trump promised to support Juan Guaido- though he did not elaborate on what "support" may entail.

Russia has pledged to boost military and economic co-operation with Venezuela to help the South American nation deal with growing US pressure.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comments came after his meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Mr Lavrov said any attempts to remove Mr Maduro's government by force were unacceptable.

The US accuses Mr Maduro of leading a corrupt and brutal regime.

Earlier on Friday, the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-run airline Conviasa, saying the company was being used to "shuttle corrupt officials around the world".

Washington is backing opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who last year declared himself interim president.

Mr Guaidó this week was one of US President Donald Trump's special guests at his State of the Union speech.

What did Mr Lavrov say?
Speaking in the Venezuelan capital on Friday, Mr Lavrov said: "We have firmly expressed our support to Venezuela's sovereignty, our solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and nation in their battle against illegal pressure which is being imposed by the US and its allies.

"We have agreed to deepen our economic, commercial and investment co-operation in several areas despite the illegitimate sanctions.

"The most promising sectors are energy, natural resources and industry."

The Russian minister added that all the practical details would be finalised during a visit by Mr Maduro to Moscow in May.

Russia is a key ally of Venezuela, lending it billions of dollars and backing its oil industry and military.

What's the background?
Mr Maduro narrowly won a presidential election in April 2013 after the death of his mentor, President Hugo Chávez. He was elected to a second term in May 2018 in an election seen as flawed by international observers.

Venezuela has experienced economic collapse - inflation was 800,000% last year. Three million people have left the country.

Mr Guaidó has accused President Maduro of being unfit for office, and won the support of many in the country as well as US and EU leaders.

The Maduro government is becoming increasingly isolated, but Moscow has expanded co-operation with Caracas - increasing arms sales and extending credit.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/politics/citgo-6-moved-from-house-arrest/index.html

US oil executives moved from house arrest to prison after Guaido meets with Trump

Six oil executives held in Venezuela for more than two years were suddenly moved from house arrest into prison on Wednesday night, just hours after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido met with US President Donald Trump.

The "CITGO 6" -- Tomeu Vadell, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano and Jose Angel Pereira -- were taken by the Maduro regime's intelligence services from their separate house arrest locations, according to several family members, Vadell's legal team, and the State Department. According to the legal team, they were removed "without warnings or judicial order" and are being held together in the same cell at El Heliocoide prison, even though "the house arrest has not been revoked by the appropriate court."

"Lawyers and relatives were not informed, and the only information shared by the SEBIN officials on duty was that [they were taken away] 'for medical checks,'" the lawyers' statement said referring to the Venezuelan intelligence service.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/05/donald-trump-juan-guaido-meeting-us-venezuela-measures

US threatens Venezuela with 'crippling' measures as Trump meets Guaidó

The United States has warned it was preparing “crippling” and “impactful measures” designed to force Nicolás Maduro from power as Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for the Venezuelan leader’s challenger, Juan Guaidó.

Guaidó, who has spent the last year battling – so far unsuccessfully – to topple Maduro, arrived at the White House on Wednesday afternoon and was met by Trump.

Earlier, a senior administration official told reporters to expect the moves against Maduro in the next 30 days, without specifying what form they might take.

“We are probably halfway to what maximum pressure [on Maduro] could look like,” they said. “We are only moving in one direction and that is forwards.”

The official said Trump instructed all parts of the US government “to use all of the tools at their disposal to further create stress upon Maduro and his cronies”.

More at links.