FM: Venezuela Ready to Defend Itself As US Invokes Treaty

Trump assures support for Colombia in any war with Venezuela

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza reported on Friday that his country is “ready” to defend itself militarily from the US, and that they will “let no one trample sacred Venezuelan soil.

This comment is a response to the US attempting to invoke the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) on behalf of Venezuela’s opposition in its latest attempt to try to impose regime change.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also promised US support to Colombia if a war breaks out. This comes amid President Trump vowing to get “very tough” on Venezuela since the ouster of John Bolton.

Trump has long talked of imposing regime change in Venezuela, and has claimed Bolton was “holding me back” in doing so. The US recognized the opposition as the rightful government of Venezuela earlier this year, and has since demanded the rest of the world do the same, though President Maduro has remained in power.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.