Fully briefed on the landing of Russian troops and supplies in Caracas to aid and support the Maduro regime in Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump had a specific message for the Kremlin during a photo-op in The Oval Office today — “Get Out!”
“Russia has to get out,” Trump told reporters on March 27 in the Oval Office, where he met with Fabiana Rosales, the wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as the South American country’s interim president, reported RFERL.
Moscow seems to be following a Kremlin playbook of inserting mercenaries and special forces to support a regime that is opposed to American influence and even hostile to Washington. The Kremlin used the same tactics in East Ukraine, Syria, and Central Africa. The troops in Venezuela could be crowd control enforcers and/or cyber experts. Caracas has accused Washington of bringing down the Venezuelan electric grid to put pressure on Maruro’s rule.
“The United States views Russia’s arrival of military planes this weekend as an unwelcome provocation,” added Vice President Mike Pence to reporters. “We call on Russia today to cease all support of the Maduro regime and stand with Juan Guaido and stand with nations across this hemisphere and across the world until freedom is restored,” Pence said, added RFERL.
When asked if military options are being considered Trump said, “We’ll see. All options are open.”
