The smoke has barely dissipated in the battlefield of Venezuela, after another attempted coup in Caracas was declared a failure on Tuesday. In a Tuesday television broadcast, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned the opposition party's plot and thanked Venezuelans for their loyalty and courage.

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U.S., Russia accused each other of plotting latest turmoil in Venezuela

Venezuela's Maduro says attempted coup defeated in TV broadcast with military leaders

The crisis in Venezuela is by no means merely a partisan battle between Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido. Instead, the two major players, namely Russia and the U.S., are also playing important roles in Venezuela. Russia said it hopes to achieve peace in the country while the U.S. claims Venezuela is "our hemisphere." 

Russia: 'Wants to achieve peace in Venezuela'

As Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvdev said in his interview with Bulgarian newspaper Trud, Russia hopes to achieve peace in Venezuela. Meanwhile, he reiterated Russia's opposition to any and all interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced the U.S. for interfering in other countries internal affairs and repeatedly violating international law, and warned that "any further aggressive steps in Venezuela would have grave consequences." The words indicate Russia's opposition to America's interference in Venezuela.

On the other hand, after noticing the U.S. was likely to intervene militarily in Venezuela after U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton's note "5,000 troops to Colombia" was released accidentally, Russia acknowledged dispatching nearly 100 military experts into Venezuela late March. By doing so, Russia earns the first mover advantage in this power game.

The Moscow Times suggested that the move also signals Moscow's unchanged position in supporting Maduro's government. By acknowledging the military dispatch, Russia intends to pressure Venezuela's military leaders to cut ties with the U.S.-backed opposition.

U.S.: Keen on government change and dominance of the region

The U.S. support for government change in Venezuela is no longer news. For months, senior U.S. officials have publicly called for Maduro's removal, but there are growing concerns that their bid for government change seems to be moving closer to the military option.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday suggested that "military action is possible if that's what's required," while U.S. President Donald Trump threatened "a full and complete embargo" after claiming Cuba's involvement in supporting Maduro. Their comments, according to Tom Fowdy, British political and international relations analyst, indicate that "the window for a non-violent struggle has seemingly closed, and the White House is very much up for the fight."

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The U.S. escalates the stakes in Venezuela

U.S. approach to Venezuela shows the dangers of unilateralism.

Venezuela is not the backyard of any country

In Maduro's Tuesday speech, he condemned the opposition for attempting to oppose the government with the support of the U.S. and neighboring Colombia, emphasizing that Venezuela is an independent country.

Earlier, Maduro has stated that the development of Venezuela crisis "depends on the extent of the madness and aggression of the northern empire and its western allies," stressing that Venezuela is getting ready to defend their right to peace.

Adam Garrie, director of the UK-based global policy think tank Eurasia Future warned that the U.S. approach to Venezuela shows the dangers of unilateralism. He believed political disputes in Venezuela should only be solved through a dialogue-based approach and suggested to have a "neutral mediator be agreed upon by various factions in Venezuela."

It is clear that Venezuela is not the backyard of any country. As the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang previously suggested, the U.S. should allow Venezuelans to decide their own fate and respect its sovereignty as an independent country. Military involvement will only result in a zero-sum situation in the region. Instead of plotting coups or sending troops to the country, dialogue is perhaps the preferred approach.

(Cover: Venezuelan soldiers parade during the Venezuelan Independence Day celebrations in Caracas, Venezuela, July 5, 2016. /VCG Photo)