Russia believes US is planning to invade Venezuela
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a press conference that the US is working on scenarios to invade Venezuela, thereby violating the UN Charter.
“Signals keep coming from Washington on the possibility of using a forceful scenario in order to overthrow the legitimate government, even through a military invasion,” she said, claiming that the White House has been speaking about this openly.
Zakharova emphasized that such statements contravene article 2(4) of the UN Charter, according to which all members of the organization must “refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state”.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump told CBS in an interview that Washington will consider invading Venezuela if necessary.
During his annual address to Congress, Trump said that the US stands with the Venezuelan people “in their noble quest for freedom”.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president of the country on 23 January, calling for premature elections. Guaidó has been recognized by the US, Canada, most South American countries, and more than ten European countries. The de facto president Nicolás Maduro, on the other hand, is backed by Russia, China and Cuba.