Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 14 august 2017

Venezuela expected to dominate Pence’s Latin American trip

By JILL COLVIN given the job of rewriting
Associated Press the country’s constitution.
CARTAGENA, Colombia Venezuela’s chief opposi-
(AP) — Vice President Mike tion coalition issued a re-
Pence’s visit to Latin Amer- strained criticism of Trump’s
ica comes amid unrest in talk of using a “military op-
Venezuela and concern by tion.” The coalition rejected
its neighbors about a pos- “the use of force or threats
sible American military role. of applying the same in
Pence greeted Colombia’s Venezuela on the part of
president, Juan Manuel any country.” But the co-
Santos, at the president’s alition’s statement didn’t
guest house in advance of directly mention Trump’s
talks planned later Sunday remarks.
as he began a weeklong Meantime, Pence has
trip likely to be dominated scheduled other stops in
by conversations about Argentina, Chile and Pan-
the crisis in Venezuela. The ama, giving speeches and
United States accuses Ven- meeting with leaders. He
ezuelan President Nicolas will tour the newly expand-
Maduro of a power grab ed Panama Canal.
that has sparked deadly In Colombia, Pence was
protests and condemna- expected to highlight
tion across the region. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, right, is welcomed by Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos trade, business investment
President Donald Trump at the presidential guesthouse in Cartagena, Colombia, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. Associated Press and other ties between the
said Friday he would not nations, including U.S. sup-
rule out a “military option” tres, telling him that Trump end of the day, our military people and prevent an port for Bogota’s efforts to
in response to Maduro’s sends greetings and thanks should be deployed when even greater humanitarian implement its peace deal
moves. for Santos’ hospitality. there’s a national secu- catastrophe?” McMaster with the Revolutionary
That statement drew quick CIA Director Mike Pompeo rity interest that can be ar- told ABC’s “This Week.” Armed Forces of Colombia.
condemnation, including said Trump, by raising the ticulated to the American “The president never takes The U.S. probably will seek
from the Colombian For- prospect of possible mili- people,” South Carolina’s options off the table in assurance that Colombia
eign Ministry, which said it tary action, was trying “to Lindsey Graham told “’Fox any of these situations and is taking seriously a surg-
opposes any “military mea- give the Venezuelan peo- News Sunday,” adding: “I what we owe him are op- ing coca production that’s
sures and the use of force,” ple hope and opportunity don’t see one in Venezu- tions,” he said. been blamed partially on
and said efforts to resolve to create a situation where ela in terms of the military McMaster said the U.S. Santos’ decision in 2015 to
Venezuela’s breakdown democracy can be re- force.” would “continue a series of stop using crop-destroying
in democracy should be stored.” Pompeo told “Fox Trump’s national security actions against the Mad- herbicides.
peaceful and respect its News Sunday” that Ven- adviser said the Trump ad- uro regime which aim to A July report from the Unit-
sovereignty. ezuela “could very much ministration wants to get a strengthen the opposition ed Nations showed that
Pence and his wife, Karen, become a risk” to the U.S. handle on the current situ- and to reach out to those coca production in Colom-
were greeted by a military if it descended into further ation under Maduro’s em- who are members of this bia had reached levels not
honor guard on the tarmac chaos. battled government and oppressive regime to tell seen in two decades, com-
at Rafael Nunez Interna- Yet a Republican on the “understand better how them it’s time to reconsider plicating Colombia’s efforts
tional Airport, where they Senate Armed Services this crisis might evolve.” your actions and your sup- to make its vast, lawless
were greeted by the Co- Committee who calls “When you look at contin- port for this dictator.” countryside more secure.
lombian minister of foreign himself “a pretty hawkish gencies, when you look at The U.S. has imposed sanc- The Trump administration
affairs, the U.S. ambassa- guy” expressed skepticism what if — what if the suf- tions against Maduro and has been putting pressure
dor to Colombia and the about the idea of Ameri- fering of the Venezuelan more than two dozen cur- on Colombia to curb the
Colombian ambassador can troops in Caracas. people increases by or- rent and former officials in flow of drugs into the U.S.,
to the U.S., among other “I have no idea why we ders of magnitude — what response to a crackdown and Colombia has stepping
officials. Afterward, Pence would use military force in more can we do with our on opposition leaders and up its forced eradication
met briefly with Santos at Venezuela. I’m open-mind- partners in the region to the recent election of a program and increased
Casa de Huespedes Ilus- ed to a reason, but at the protect the Venezuelan pro-government assembly seizures of cocaine.q