US invokes regional defense treaty over Venezuela crisis

WASHINGTON: The United States invoked a regional defense pact Wednesday with 10 other countries and Venezuela´s opposition after “bellicose” moves by Nicolas Maduro´s regime. A request to invoke the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) came from the Venezuelan opposition, said a statement from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, retweeted early Thursday by President Donald Trump.

“Recent bellicose moves by the Venezuelan military to deploy along the border with Colombia as well as the presence of illegal armed groups and terrorist organizations in Venezuelan territory demonstrate that Nicolas Maduro not only poses a threat to the Venezuelan people, his actions threaten the peace and security of Venezuela´s neighbors,” Pompeo said.

Venezuela was thrust into a political crisis in January when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself acting president in a direct challenge to Maduro´s authority over the country from which millions have fled economic deprivation. The opposition branded the socialist leader a “usurper” after his re-election last year in a poll widely viewed as rigged. Pompeo said in the statement invoking the pact is “recognition of the increasingly destabilizing influence” the Maduro regime exerts on the region.

“Catastrophic economic policies and political repression continue to drive this unprecedented refugee crisis, straining the ability of governments to respond,” he said. “We look forward to further high-level discussions with fellow TIAR parties, as we come together to collectively address the urgent crisis raging within Venezuela and spilling across its border through the consideration of multilateral economic and political options.”

On Tuesday Venezuela´s armed forces chiefs said they had begun mobilizing 150,000 troops for military exercises on the Colombian border, after accusing Colombia of plotting to spark a military conflict.