Venezuelan military seals off border, US aid convoy arrives

The situation in Venezuela continues to escalate with the appearance of a US aid convoy waiting at the Colombian border to enter Venezuela. The US move immediately caused mixed reactions from Venezuelan public opinion and the international community.

The first US aid convoy for Venezuela arrived in the border city of Cucuta, Colombia yesterday (February 7), awaiting orders and permission from the Venezuelan military to enter the country. Escorting the convoy were Colombian police cars. However, the Venezuelan military blocked the Tien-di-tat bridge - the only entrance connecting the Colombian city of Cucuta and the Venezuelan city of Ureña - with cargo containers to prevent the convoy from entering Venezuela.

Opposition leader Huan Guaido, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela, urged the military to allow the convoy into Venezuela while the government of President Nicolas Maduro vehemently rejected it, saying that this was an excuse for the US to intervene militarily in the internal affairs of this South American country and overthrow him.

During a rally in Caracas on February 7, President Maduro presented a petition that is expected to collect 10 million signatures from Venezuelans to protest US intervention in Venezuela. Mr. Maduro did not provide details of the petition but said that he would soon send it to the US government.

“Because of our oil, mineral and other great assets, our critics are pushing an international coalition led by the US government to carry out a crazy act, which is to launch a military attack on Venezuela under the pretext of a humanitarian crisis that does not exist,” Maduro said. “We will go to the US with 10 million signatures calling on the US to respect the views of the Venezuelan people, demanding peace for the country.”

In support of the opposition, US Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams on February 7 called on Venezuela to quickly open the bridge, citing the need for the Venezuelan government to allow aid to reach its people. The US government has even imposed a ban on some officials in the Venezuelan President's administration from traveling to the US. US Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams also emphasized that the time for dialogue between President Maduro's government and the US has long passed, except for dialogue about Maduro's departure.

In response to the US move, Russia, China and many countries in the region continue to support Mr. Maduro and warn the US and other countries not to interfere in the situation in Venezuela. Bolivian Foreign Minister Diego Pary said on February 7 that his country opposes any intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that his country is extremely concerned about the possibility of US military intervention in Venezuela and that the Mexican government is working to bring the parties involved in the Venezuelan crisis to the negotiating table.

The European Union, while supporting the Venezuelan opposition leader, has called for dialogue and elections in Venezuela, and has opposed any hasty intervention in the situation in Venezuela amid a US aid convoy lining up at the Colombian border. “To resolve the current crisis in Venezuela, it is essential to restore full democracy in Venezuela, including the rule of law, as well as respect for the constitution and institutions in this South American country,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement to reporters.