The Venezuelan opposition leader, who proclaimed himself interim president and called on legitimate head of the country Nicolas Maduro to step down, attempted a coup on Tuesday that ended in failure. Meanwhile, US officials have made it clear that all options are “on the table”.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has confirmed that he is considering asking the United States to invade Venezuela to install him in power. He says this is one of several options under consideration now.
Guaido is keen to see Maduro forcibly removed from power so he can replace him, and after last week’s failed US-backed coup, he is looking for a new avenue to pursue, despite arguing that he’s not “defeated” entirely.
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov issued his own statement on Sunday, calling on the US to abandon its campaign to overthrow Maduro at any rate, saying it was an “irresponsible” plan. Lavrov will be in Finland on Monday, and is expected to meet with Mike Pompeo while there.
The US has for months committed to supporting Guaido, and officials have long threatened an invasion to make it happen. Though not everyone in the US is on board with a war, some in the administration maintain that the US is determined to oust Maduro by any method, and seem to be running out of ideas for a US-imposed regime change that doesn’t involve conquering the country.
