Venezuela crisis: Pompeo demands aid corridor opened
6 February 2019
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has demanded Venezuela open a bridge on the Colombian border for an aid shipment organised by the opposition. Venezuelan soldiers have blocked the crossing ahead of a delivery arranged by opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president. President Nicolas Maduro, who has the support of the army, has rejected letting it into the country. In a tweet, Mr Pompeo demanded Mr Maduro let the aid through. "The Maduro regime must LET THE AID REACH THE STARVING PEOPLE," the post reads. Venezuela is in the grip of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Mr Guaido is head of Venezuela's National Assembly and says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. He has secured the backing of over 40 countries, including the US and most Latin American and European nations. Mr Maduro still has the support of China and Russia. The Venezuelan military had used a tanker truck and cargo containers to block access to the Tienditas bridge which links Cucuta, Colombia to Urena, Venezuela, opposition politician Franklyn Duarte told AFP news agency. "Troops from the armed forces are blocking the pass", he said. The bridge, a joint project between Colombia and Venezuela, was finished in 2016 but never opened as relations between the two neighbours had soured. Venezuelan opposition leaders appealed to the military to allow aid trucks to cross the border. "You know there's a red line, you know well there's a limit, you know that medicines, food and medical supplies are that limit," said lawmaker Miguel Pizarro. Pictures shared on social media appeared to show residents confronting soldiers in Urena. Mr Maduro said humanitarian aid would be the start of a US-led invasion, insisting that "no-one will enter, not one invading soldier". Mr Guaido does not control any territory in Venezuela so, instead, he is planning to set up collection centres in neighbouring countries where Venezuelans have fled to. He said he wanted to set up an international coalition to gather aid at three points, and press Venezuela's army to let it into the country. In a tweet on Sunday, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said plans were being advanced. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said in an interview the use of military force remained "an option". In his State of the Union speech, he reiterated his support for Mr Guaido, saying: "We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom." Correction 25 February 2019: This article has been amended to make clear that while construction of Tienditas Bridge was completed in 2016, it was never opened due to worsening relations between Venezuela and Colombia.
Mr Guaido does not control any territory in Venezuela so, instead, he is planning to set up collection centres in neighbouring countries where Venezuelans have fled to. He said he wanted to set up an international coalition to gather aid at three points, and press Venezuela's army to let it into the country. In a tweet on Sunday, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said plans were being advanced. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said in an interview the use of military force remained "an option". In his State of the Union speech, he reiterated his support for Mr Guaido, saying: "We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom." Correction 25 February 2019: This article has been amended to make clear that while construction of Tienditas Bridge was completed in 2016, it was never opened due to worsening relations between Venezuela and Colombia.
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How will the aid scheme work?