Of Latin America and Europe to China: more and more countries are positioning themselves in the power struggle between the Venezuelan head of state Nicolas Maduro and President Juan Guaidó. Anyone who stands behind whom? An Overview.
President Guaidó announced before Thousands of supporters in Venezuela to hold free elections (archive image)
After the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó the socialist government of Nicolás Maduro for disempowered and himself the rightful interim President has declared that the international community into two camps Guaidó supporters here, Maduro split: supporters there. We summarize the reactions.
This Overview is continuously updated.
Countries, the support Guaidó:
USA
Only a few minutes after Juan Guiadó explained to the interim President, acknowledged the US President Donald Trump him as such. He will continue to “use the full weight of economic and diplomatic Power of the United States, to press for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela”.
US Secretary of state, Pompeo called on the security forces and the military in Venezuela to protect all citizens of the country, as well as all in Venezuela, foreigners living. The United States wanted to maintain diplomatic relations with the country through a dialogue with the government, the interim head of state Guaidó upright.
Earlier, Maduro had broken off diplomatic relations to Washington’s one-sided and that the US diplomat asked to leave within 72 hours the country. The U.S. state Department announced that the United States would not follow the arrangement, because they recognize the Maduro government. These have, therefore, to refer any “legal authority,” U.S. diplomats in the country.
Canada
Canada’s foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland assured Guaidó restraint. “We recognize the interim presidency in Venezuela, which has taken over the President of the national Assembly, Juan Guaidó, in accordance with Venezuela’s Constitution and support this.”
Organization Of American States
The Secretary-General of the organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, was also behind Guaidó: “Our congratulations to Juan Guaidó as interim President of Venezuela. He has our back, in order to lead the country back to democracy,” said the Uruguayan.
European Union
Also, the EU indicated in the first reactions in support for Guaidó, has not recognized him but so far officially as the rightful interim President. “On 23. January, have demanded that the Venezuelan people clearly democracy and the possibility to decide freely their own destiny. These voices can not be ignored,” – said in a joint statement by the member States.
Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans marched on Wednesday in the capital Caracas against President Maduro
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron said that Europe’s support to the “illegitimate election” Maduros the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Macron praised the courage of the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who had fallen for their freedom on the road.
Previously had spoken to EU Council President Donald Tusk for a unified Position of the EU to “support the forces of democracy” in Venezuela. “In contrast to Maduro, the Parliament, Juan Guaidó included, has a democratic mandate from the Venezuelan citizens,” wrote Tusk on Twitter.
The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called for the immediate holding of “free and credible elections” in the South American country.
Germany
The Federal government spoke evasively to the developments. “The population of Venezuela is courageous for a free future of the country. This requires a political process that leads to free and credible elections,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Twitter. The democratically elected national Assembly to come “a special role”.
Clearly positioned in the foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU group in the Bundestag, Jürgen Hardt. Guaidó was the “sole legitimate representative of the Venezuelan people”. Maduro has to cede “finally, and a return of Venezuela to the constitutional order”. It was “unspeakably, as parts of the German and international Left-hand turn a blind eye to the millions suffering in Venezuela and the Region, and with the Maduro dictatorship, solidarity,” said Hardt.
In the morning Ulrich Entwine, a member of the foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag and Rapporteur for Latin America of the FDP group in the Bundestag, the Federal government had prompted Guaidó as interim President to acknowledge. “Maduro has been in disregard of democratic principles, restriction of freedom rights and the imprisonment of opposition already much too long against the will of the Venezuelan people,” said Lamp. A recognition by the United States would therefore be “more disadvantageous” for Guaidó. “Therefore, it is now important that as many countries as possible will follow their example and support him,” said Lamp.
The Vice-Chairman of the Left, Heike Hänsel, called on the coalition government to condemn the “coup” in Venezuela. Germany should not be “silent accomplices to the consideration of ends-free and fire-dangerous Regime-Change policy in the United States in Latin America,” the left politician.
UK
From London Guaidó get the support you need. Prime Minister Theresa May had a speaker tell, the presidential election in Venezuela last year was neither free nor fair. The severance of diplomatic relations with the United States by the Maduro government was “completely unacceptable”. A solution to the crisis could only be through a “peaceful and diplomatic solution, not through expulsions” were found.
Countries, in support of Maduro:
Russia
For the government in Moscow Nicolás remains Maduro is the legitimate President of Venezuela. Outside interference is unacceptable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The hints of a military intervention by representatives of the U.S. government are very dangerous.
Not after: Venezuela’s head of state, Nicolás Maduro, seen here at a Demonstration of supporters in Caracas
Previously, Russia had criticized the Position of Western countries in Venezuelan government crisis. The developments in Caracas “clearly show the attitude of the progressive international community with respect to international law, sovereignty and Non-interference in the internal political Affairs of a country in which they wish to have a change of power,” foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood behind his Venezuelan colleagues. “My Brother Maduro! Stand upright, we are on your side”, quoting Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, from a telephone conversation the two heads of state.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described the developments in Caracas in the TV channel “A Haber” as the “strange Situation”. Maduro was elected by popular vote, the AKP politicians.
Bolivia
Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, was also on the side of Maduros. The solidarity of his country with the Venezuelan people and the “brother Maduro”. The “claws of imperialism” attempted “to undermine democracy and self-determination” of Venezuela, the “death knell”, of the socialist.
China
As a spokesperson for the foreign Ministry announced in Beijing, the Chinese government is against interference of other countries into the conflict. To protect also support China “the efforts of the Venezuelan government, the sovereignty, independence and stability of the country”.