Army, nation ready to repel any attack on Venezuela sovereignty: VP

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has hit back at US President Donald Trump, who has threatened the country with military invasion, saying the army and the nation stand fully prepared to repel any attack on the country's sovereignty.

Speaking to Russian media on Sunday, Rodriguez said any such military intervention would target the country’s sovereignty and independence, which she said were “non-negotiable” issues.

“The sovereignty is not discussed, it is defended,” she said. “We are always ready to fend off an attack.”

She said that Venezuelans “will be on standby” to defend the nation’s borders and will not allow any foreign interference “regardless of where it comes from.”

Venezuela has been grappling with a political crisis since last month, when Western-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido abruptly declared himself “interim president.”

The Trump administration was quick to recognize Guaido. It has also stepped up pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro, saying it is considering all options, including a military one, to overthrow the elected president.

PressTV-Trump says military action in Venezuela ‘an option’

The US president says military action in Venezuela in support of the opposition is an option for Washington.

Washington has also announced a new round of sanctions against oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) in order to funnel income from the country’s main oil exporter into the hands of Guaido.

Maduro, who had the critical support of the military, has accused Guaido of staging a US-engineered coup against him, and has severed diplomatic relations with Washington.

The Venezuelan vice president further echoed earlier remarks by Maduro that the government was ready to try resolving issues through dialog.

“Of course, we call for solving all problems peacefully, by establishing dialogue and resolving issues at the electoral level,” Rodriguez said.

Maduro told Russian media last week that he was ready to sit down with the opposition for “for the sake of peace” and “the benefit of Venezuela.”

Trump, however, ruled out any negotiations with the Venezuelan president in an interview with CBS on Saturday. He once again threatened that military intervention in Venezuela was “an option.”

‘Trump confirmed he leads coup in Venezuela’

Trump’s stance prompted a response from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, who said the US president has “confirmed he is at the forefront of the coup” by floating the military option.

“Trump confirms that he leads the state coup as he threatens to use military force again in violation of the UN Charter. The Venezuelan opposition is controlled by Trump,” Arreaza said in a Twitter post late on Sunday.

Trump will leave White House stained in blood: Maduro

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan president once again warned his American counterpart against going for a military option against the Latin American country.

“Stop. Stop, Trump! Hold it right there! You are making mistakes that will leave your hands covered in blood and you will leave the presidency stained with blood,” Maduro said during an interview with Spanish media. “Why would you want a repeat of Vietnam?”

Maduro also delivered a stern warning to Guaido, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, calling on him “to abandon his coup-mongering strategy.”

“Think carefully about what you are doing,” Maduro said.

Humanitarian aid or military intervention?

In the meantime, the US said it was sending “humanitarian aid” to Venezuela following a request from the self-proclaimed president. Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, said over the weekend that they will send “critical supplies” requested by Guaido.

Maduro immediately dismissed the offer as a pretext for military intervention.

He refused to allow the so-called aid into the country, saying Venezuela is not “a country of beggars.”

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has opened a case against Guaido to investigate his suspected role in “serious crimes that threaten the constitutional order,” according to Attorney General Tarek Saab.

The court has also frozen his bank accounts and banned him from leaving the county.

Besides the US, Guaido has the support of Washington’s Latin American and European allies.

France, Germany and Spain have threatened to follow suit and recognize Guaido on Monday, when the 8-day ultimatum they gave to Maduro to call early presidential elections expires.

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