Officials in the Treasury Department have drawn up an action plan to channel the South American country’s cash to the opposition led by Juan Guaido, Axios reports. As part of the measures to push for regime change, the White House is reportedly aiming to cut off money to Maduro’s military in a bid to break the president’s control over the armed forces. A source told Axios: “The implications are huge because it will be difficult for Maduro to find another refiner of Venezuelan oil with any speed to keep cash flowing.”
Details of the US plan comes as tensions in Venezuela threaten to boil over after opposition leader Guaido called for a strike on Wednesday followed by a large scale protest on Saturday against Maduro’s government.
Maduro was elected to a second term in May at a poll marred by allegations of vote-rigging.
Countries including the United States and UK have now recognised Guaido as interim president.
Washington has threatened to intervene if any threats are made against American diplomats or Guaido, with President Trump’s National Security Adviser John Bolton warning any such actions will be met with “a significant response”.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s defence minister today insisted the country’s armed forces are “ready to die” in service of their homeland.
Vladimir Padrino said in a tweet: “It is time for revolutionary, Bolivarian, patriotic activism.
“This is the activism that today empowers us in this new phase of defending our homeland. We are not going to hand it over! We are ready to die for it!”
This is a breaking story. More to follow…