US to offer 'clear actions' for Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will hold emergency talks with US Deputy President Mike Pence following a meeting with regional leaders in Bogota.

Juan Guaido

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will hold crisis talks with US Deputy President Mike Pence. (AAP)

US Vice President Mike Pence is set to announce "concrete steps" and "clear actions" to address the Venezuela crisis when he meets on Monday with regional leaders in Bogota, Colombia.

Washington has declined to comment on what the new measures will entail ahead of Pence's speech, to be delivered to a summit of the Lima Group after he meets with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The meeting come after convoys of US aid were blocked at the Venezuelan border by forces and gangs loyal to President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States and most other Western nations no longer recognise Maduro as the country's leader.

"What happened yesterday is not going to deter us from getting humanitarian aid into Venezuela," a senior US administration official said on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The vice president will announce concrete steps," the official said.

"You should expect him to announce clear actions tomorrow as he speaks to the Lima Group."

President Donald Trump and other Western leaders have recognised Guaido, the head of Venezuela's national assembly, as the country's interim president.

The official said Washington want to find ways to empower him.

In recent weeks, Trump has said all options were on the table for supporting Guaido and has declined to rule out the use of military force.

Asked by reporters whether the United States would provide military force if requested by Guaido, the official said Pence would listen to his suggestions and take them back to Trump.

"Ultimately, it would be a decision for the president to make," the official told reporters.


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
US to offer 'clear actions' for Venezuela | SBS News