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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the administration of President Donald Trump was prepared to take military action to stem the crisis in Venezuela.
"The president has been crystal clear and incredibly consistent. Military action is possible. If that's what's required, that's what the United States will do," Pompeo said on Fox Business Network.
Pompeo said the US would prefer a peaceful transition of power, with President Nicolas Maduro leaving and new elections held to choose new leaders.
"But the president has made clear in the event that there comes a moment -- and we will all have to make decisions about when that moment is and the president will ultimately have to make that decision -- he's prepared to do that if that's what's required."
In a separate interview with CNN, National Security Advisor John Bolton said Pompeo would be speaking later today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the situation.
Bolton and Pompeo have accused Russia and Cuba of standing in the way of a change in the regime in Caracas.
Pompeo said Tuesday that Maduro was set to leave the country for Cuba but apparently was talked out of it by the Russians.
"The Russians like nothing better than putting a thumb in our eye," Bolton said. "They're using the Cubans as surrogates. They'd love to get effective control of a country in this hemisphere."
"It's not ideological, it's just good old fashioned power politics. That's why we have the Monroe doctrine which we're dusting off in this administration, why the president indicated last night that the Cubans better think long and hard about what their role is," he added.
The Monroe doctrine is a 19th century US policy opposing interference in the western hemisphere by European powers, which later was invoked to justify US intervention in Latin America.
Acting Pentagon chief cancels Europe trip over Venezuela crisis
Washington (AFP) May 1, 2019 -
US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has canceled a trip to Europe to stay on top of the crisis in Venezuela and events at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
"Secretary Shanahan will no longer travel to Europe as he has determined remaining present in DC would allow him to more effectively coordinate with NSA and the State Department in Venezuela and to continue coordination with DHS for support along the Southwest border," his spokesman Joe Buccino said.
Shanahan had planned to embark on a tour of Germany, Belgium and Britain, starting Thursday.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier Wednesday President Donald Trump was prepared to take military action to quell the crisis in Venezuela.
Shanahan was due to attend ceremonies in Germany and Belgium marking the change of commanders for US European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
He was also expected to meet his British counterpart Gavin Williamson before his return on Saturday.
Venezuelan was bracing Wednesday for anti-government protests called by opposition leader Juan Guaido in a bid to pile pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
Pro-Maduro rallies were also expected, a day after violent clashes erupted in the capital Caracas following Guido's call on the military to rise up against Maduro, who claimed the insurrection had failed.
The United States is among some 50 countries that recognize Guaido, the opposition leader who declared himself interim president in January in a bid to replace Maduro, whom he has branded as illegitimate.
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