Cuba warns of possible U.S. military intervention in Venezuela

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The Cuban government on late Wednesday said Washington is preparing for a military intervention in Venezuela under the humanitarian pretext and called for international efforts to avoid the scenario.

"The U.S. intends to create a humanitarian pretext to initiate a military aggression against Venezuela and has proposed to introduce in that sovereign nation through intimidation, pressure and force, an alleged humanitarian aid," said Havana in an official government statement.

The Caribbean island state added that the United States is obviously "paving the way" for building a "humanitarian corridor" by force under the "international protection" to safeguard the civilian interests, and hence intervene in Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, speaks during a televised press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday, February 8, 2019. /VCG Photo

In the statement, Cuba said U.S. military aircraft had transported troops between February 6 and 10, involving U.S. military bases in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands without the consent of local governments. The troop movements, it added, involved Special Forces units and Navy SEALs that are usually put into covert operations, including against leaders of other nations.

Havana also accused Washington of having been "brutally pressuring" other governments into supporting a new presidential election in Venezuela and recognizing self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, who is the leader of National Assembly of Venezuela.

Guaido declared himself Venezuela's interim president on January 23, nearly two weeks after Nicolas Maduro, who won the 2018 presidential elections in the South American country, was inaugurated for a second term.

Cuba said it opposed a U.S.-led draft resolution to be submitted to the United Nations Security Council. The document, which it said urges the international community to adopt all necessary measures to restore democracy in Venezuela, "paves the way for a military invasion."

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognized as the country's rightful interim ruler, attends a session of Venezuela's National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela February 13, 2019. /VCG Photo

"It's essential to remember that similar pretexts were adopted by the U.S. to intervene in Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Libya, at the price of immense losses of human life and enormous suffering," noted the statement.

In addition, Cuba in the statement voiced its support for negotiating a solution to the existing crisis in Venezuela.

(Top image: A supporter of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holding a copy of the Venezuelan constitution and flags of Venezuela and Cuba, takes part in a gathering in support of his government outside the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, January 26, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency