US President Donald Trump has suggested that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro resign. “It’s entirely up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be wise of him to do that,” Trump replied on Monday when asked by a journalist whether the US government was trying to force Maduro to resign by putting pressure on Venezuela.
Trump added: “If he’s going to do something – if he’s going to be tough, it will be the last time he’ll ever be able to be tough.”
Shortly before, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had called for Maduro’s resignation. “We are not limiting ourselves to intercepting these ships, but also sending a message to the world that Maduro’s illegal activities are intolerable and he must go,” Noem told Fox News.
The USA Ships have been attacking off the coast since September Venezuela and killed at least 104 people. The US government justifies the attacks with the fight against drug trafficking. However, no evidence was presented that they were actually drug smugglers. According to family and government reports, fishermen were among those killed.
In mid-December, Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. Finally they confiscated USA two oil tankers within two weeks. On Sunday, US government circles said that a third tanker was being pursued.
US warships in the Caribbean
Trump blames the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduroto control drug gangs and use them specifically against the USA. In August, the USA doubled the reward for Maduro’s arrest to 50 million US dollars (around 42 million euros). The US also deployed warships in the Caribbean, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier.
Maduro suspects the US actions are plotting to overthrow him. On Tuesday, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss tensions between the USA and
Venezuela. The government in Caracas had called for the meeting with the support of Russia and China.
