President Nicolás Maduro faced increasing international pressure to step down on Saturday, as European governments warned they would recognize his chief opponent as Venezuela’s leader unless a date for new elections is called within eight days.
The United States is among nearly two dozen countries that recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim leader in recent days. But Russia, China and others have defended Maduro.
At the same time, the United States and other nations sought to cut off the Maduro government’s already fragile sources of funding, including a move aimed at putting Citgo — the U.S.-based oil company wholly owned by Venezuela’s state energy giant — in the hands of Guaidó, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The Bank of England, meanwhile, declined to allow Maduro’s government to repatriate $1.2 billion worth of gold, Bloomberg News reported.
Perhaps sensing his slipping position, Maduro offered to meet with Guaidó, “whenever he wants, wherever he wants. If I have to climb [a mountain] at 3 a.m. to dialogue, I will do it.”
He also blamed President Donald Trump for the showdown.
“I love the United States,” he said. “I broke political and diplomatic relations with the government of Trump. But I did not break relations with the United States.”
In Caracas, the opposition also began outlining its plan to undermine Maduro’s authority.
Source: Mercury News