Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Venezuela's Maduro asks pope help, vaunts Russia ties versus US

Via Drudge:  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called Tuesday for Pope Francis's support against a "military threat" from the United States, as international pressure mounts over the deadly political crisis Caracas is facing.

"May the pope help us prevent Trump from sending troops to invade Venezuela," Maduro told a news conference. "I ask for the pope's help against the military threat from the United States."

Maduro has faced months of deadly mass protests by opponents who blame him for an economic crisis and are demanding elections to replace him.

International pressure has also grown, with US President Donald Trump even saying this month that the United States reserved the option of military intervention in the Venezuela crisis.

Maduro pointedly highlighted his alliance with Russia, which had rejected Trump's recent threat as "unacceptable."

The Venezuelan leader said he wanted to "keep strengthening the military cooperation agreement" between the two countries "for the sovereign defense of Venezuela."

Russia recently sold fighter jets and ground to air missiles to Venezuela.

"Venezuela has the full and absolute support of Russia," he said, adding that he would soon go to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(link)

3 comments:

edutcher said...

Maduro got Venezuela in that mess, now he wants Frank and Poot to save him.

He'd be better off if Trump did invade (which I think he has no intention of doing).

ampersand said...

How many divisions of the Swiss guard does the Pope have?

Brill said...

The Swiss guard may be small in size but the pope mobile fitted with its laser cannon is a formidable opponent.