Maduro vows to defend Venezuela with his life
Venezuela's president addressed soldiers in the northern state of Aragua, criticizing European countries' decision to recognize Guaido.
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| President Maduro (gray shirt) parades with soldiers in the capital Caracas on February 4. Photo:Twitter. |
"I, Nicolas Maduro Moros, legitimate and constitutional leader of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, swear to defend the Fatherland with my life. We will not surrender the country, the people will never surrender,"Guardianquoted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaking to soldiers in the northern state of Aragua on February 4.
Maduro insists he is the target of a plot to overthrow the government that followed former President Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013. The Venezuelan president rejected calls for new presidential elections, saying he would "continue to govern the country for a six-year term".
Maduro also criticized European countries during the event in Aragua state. He used harsh words aimed at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, one of the first officials to declare support for self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido and call for free elections in Venezuela.
"The cowardly Spanish government has made a disastrous decision. I tell Mr. Pedro Sánchez, if one day a coup happens, if the Western military intervenes in Venezuela, blood will be on your hands," Maduro said.
Tensions in Venezuela escalated after Guaido declared himself "interim president" on January 23. US President Donald Trump quickly voiced his support for Guaido and denied the authority of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The White House boss said on February 3 that he still left open the possibility of military intervention in the Venezuelan crisis.
Several Latin American and European countries followed the US lead. Britain, France, Sweden, Spain and Austria on February 4 recognized Guaido as "interim president" after the end of an eight-day deadline they had given President Maduro to hold early elections.
Russia, China, Türkiye, many European countries and some Latin American countries still recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela, and oppose any plot to use force to interfere in the country's internal affairs. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also said that foreign support for Guaido is "adding fuel to the fire".
