Trump delivers sharpest warning to Venezuela's military

U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a blunt warning to Venezuela's military, which remains loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, to recognize Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president or they will lose everything.

According to The New York Times, President Trump oppressed the Venezuela military Sunday, saying, “The United States knows who the collaborators of the Maduro administration are, and we know where they keep the billions they plundered." He also hinted at the possibility of U.S. military action, saying, "We seek a peaceful transition of power, but all options are open."

Mr. Trump emphasized the fact that Middle and South American socialism that Hugo Chavez, predecessor of Maduro, created is now over. Middle and South American socialism refers to a model that pours money earned from the export of raw materials such as crude oil into free welfare and various other populism policies. Many assess that the Venezuela brand of socialism has reached its limit with decreased "oil money" as a result of the recent global economic slowdown and low oil price.

The Maduro administration’s will to defend its administration, however, is becoming stronger. The Venezuela government will be opening a large-scale concert on Friday and Saturday at the Simon Bolivar international bridge, which shares its border with Colombia. This concert is a type of "counter concert" to respond to Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, who supports Juan Guaido. The British entrepreneur has declared that he will open a concert in Cucuta, Colombia on Friday, with the aim of raising 100 million dollars for destitute Venezuelans.


Ji-Sun Choi aurinko@donga.com