Tensions continue to rise between the US and Russia this week on the heels of a failed,
US-backed coup in Venezuela. The US is blaming Russia, at least in
part, for the failure, while Russia is warning the US against meddling
in the country.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, with
Lavrov warning the US that it considers the US interference as a
“flagrant breach of international law.” Pompeo argued that continuing to
oppose regime change was “destabilizing” for Venezuela.
Pompeo claimed on Tuesday that President Maduro was set to leave
Venezuela for exile on Tuesday, but changed his mind when Russia told
him not to. Russia has denied that this was the case, claiming it was
part of America’s “information war.“
When the coup was in progress, Mick Mulvaney said that in the US view,
Russia and Cuba were “not supposed to” intervene on behalf of the
Venezuelan government. Russia, however, has continued to support Maduro,
and that doesn’t seem likely to change. With US and Russian views of
Venezuela’s future both starkly different, this is likely to remain a
source of tension for some time.
Tensions Between US and Russia Grow Over Venezuela
Nations trade warnings against interference
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.
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