U.S. preparing 'actions' in coming days against Venezuela: Pompeo to Fox News

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo waves to the media before his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry at the State Department in Washington, U.S., August 8, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/Files

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is preparing a "series of actions" in the coming days to increase pressure on the Venezuelan government, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Friday.

 

"You'll see in the coming days a series of actions that continue to increase the pressure level against the Venezuelan leadership folks, who are working directly against the best interest of the Venezuelan people," Pompeo said. "We're determined to ensure that the Venezuelan people get their say."

 

He did not give further details on the nature of the planned actions.

 

Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

The Trump administration has steadily increased sanctions against officials in the leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro, accusing it of stifling democracy by jailing opposition leaders.

 

Last year, Washington imposed sanctions prohibiting trading new debt and equity issued by the Venezuelan government and its state oil company PDVSA. It has imposed several rounds of sanctions on government officials, including on Maduro.

 

Venezuela's economy has collapsed under Maduro, with annual inflation running at 200,000 percent, and staple foods and basic medicine increasingly difficult to obtain, which has led to mass emigration.

 

Pompeo's warning comes ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York next week attended by heads of state from around the world. Maduro has not attended the meetings since 2015 and this week said he may not attend the gathering because of concerns about his safety.

 

In August, two drones exploded over an outdoor rally in Caracas where Maduro was giving a speech, injuring seven soldiers and leading to the arrest of over a dozen suspects, including several military officials. Maduro described it as an assassination attempt.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-22

America might as well just let Venezuela fester. It is a continual slap in the face to the liberal socialist agenda being pushed in America. The people of Venezuela need to get back to growing their own food rather than spending their days waiting in lines for govt handouts. They were pretty good at it before the govt got them addicted to handouts. The real irony is that America is now very much a socialist economy where 49% of households now rely on welfare.

15 minutes ago, guest879 said:

America might as well just let Venezuela fester. It is a continual slap in the face to the liberal socialist agenda being pushed in America. The people of Venezuela need to get back to growing their own food rather than spending their days waiting in lines for govt handouts. They were pretty good at it before the govt got them addicted to handouts. The real irony is that America is now very much a socialist economy where 49% of households now rely on welfare.

In a city like Caracas it is quite difficultto grow your own food. Same as 30 and 60 years ago.

4 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

In a city like Caracas it is quite difficultto grow your own food. Same as 30 and 60 years ago.

but the country as a whole can easily feed itself and even be a heavy  food exporter. Venezuela used to be the food basket of south America, and Zimbabwe used to be the food basket of  Africa.  Change rarely seems to be for the better these days. That's progressives for you I suppose.

41 minutes ago, guest879 said:

America might as well just let Venezuela fester. It is a continual slap in the face to the liberal socialist agenda being pushed in America. The people of Venezuela need to get back to growing their own food rather than spending their days waiting in lines for govt handouts. They were pretty good at it before the govt got them addicted to handouts. The real irony is that America is now very much a socialist economy where 49% of households now rely on welfare.

Maduro is committing genocide against his own people while the world stands idly by.

Guess I don’t get out much I don’t know anyone on welfare not a one I think Donald is interested in Venezuela because it has oil he can easily rip off in the name of the usa just rember some of the things he has said in the past in reference to America’s wars

...democracy in action....???

 

...nothing like another country meddling in your own country's affairs.....

 

...because they know better...???

 

...because they are so benevolent....???

 

...when and how will this madness end....ever...???

 

***

 

...is it like the parent beating the child and declaring 'This is for your own good'....???

 

..except in this case it is millions of lives...and billions...or trillions...in natural resources...

 

...jeez...