MOSCOW.-Russia and its close ally Belarus reached out to embattled Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Thursdaywhile the President of the United States, Donald TrumpThe pressure to remove it increases, increasing the possibility that seek refuge abroad.
Sources told Reuters that Maduro told Trump in a phone call on November 21 that he was willing to leave Venezuela if he and his family were granted a full legal amnesty.
The Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenkomaintained on Thursday his second meeting in 17 days with Jesús Rafael Salazar VelázquezVenezuelan ambassador in Moscow.
According to the Belarusian state news agency Belta, Lukashenko told the envoy this on November 25 Maduro was always welcome in Belarus and it was time for him to pay a visit.
On Thursday, Belta quoted Lukashenko and reminded Velázquez that at the first meeting they agreed to coordinate “certain issues” with Maduro.
“We agreed that after resolving certain issues, you would take the time to meet with me and make the appropriate decision, which is within our competence. And if necessary, we would involve the president of Venezuela,” Lukashenko said.
The Reuters agency asked Lukashenko’s office for comment on the significance of the meetings and There was no answer to the question of whether Belarus would be willing to provide shelter to Maduro if he resigned.
In the meantime, The Colombian Foreign Ministry said it would not rule out granting asylum to Maduro Colombia’s chancellor said on Thursday that if he agreed he would step down from power under pressure from the United States.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro is calling for a democratic transition in Caracas amid tensions between Maduro and US President Donald Trump.
Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said her country could grant asylum to the Venezuelan president if an agreement is reached with Washington.
“If this departure means he has to live in another country or ask for protection, then Colombia wouldn’t have to say no“, said the diplomat in an interview with Caracol Radio.
“But (this) is a decision that the USA and the Maduro government have to make in negotiations,” emphasized the Chancellor.
Although he offered him asylum, Villavicencio assured that Maduro might prefer to choose a “more remote and quiet” location. to live when you leave Caracas.
Putin’s support
The Kremlin said the president Vladimir Putinin a phone call with the Venezuelan leader also this Thursday, “Reaffirmed its support for the policies of the Maduro government aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure”.
According to the Russian presidency, both heads of state and government also confirmed their approval “mutual commitment” with the implementation of Russian-Venezuelan projects, especially in the areas of economy, energy and trade, and reiterated: ““the strategic, solid and rising character” of bilateral relations.
According to the letter, the Russian president emphasized that “the Venezuelan people deserve absolute respect in their legitimate struggle.” to defend its sovereignty and independence“.
Putin added that he would continue to support Venezuela and Maduro offered his “diplomatic ability to strengthen cooperation on these essential issues.”
The Trump administration has stated this does not recognize Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Maduro claimed to have won re-election last year in an election that the United States and other Western governments called a farce. Independent observers claimed the opposition won overwhelmingly.
In recent months, Trump has increased pressure on Venezuela, particularly through a massive military operation in the Caribbean.
In an interview with Politico this week, Trump said this Maduro’s days “are numbered”although he declined to say whether he would be willing to send U.S. troops to Venezuela.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters on Thursday: “We hope so.” The White House manages to prevent the situation from slipping further into a major conflictwhich threatens to have unforeseeable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere.”
Lukashenko, Belarus’ veteran authoritarian leader, did it friendly relations with Venezuela And again this year, he entered into dialogue with the Trump administration after years of rejection by Washington and other Western governments because of his human rights record and his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump began easing U.S. sanctions on Belarus and last month appointed a special envoy, John Coale, to continue negotiations with Lukashenko over the release of political prisoners.
Agencies Reuters, AFP and AP
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