Maduro calls for military exercises after Trump's threat

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Europe

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday called for military exercises after US President Donald Trump's threat of a possible armed intervention in the country, but Maduro insisted he still wanted to hold talks with the US leader.

As Maduro told supporters in Caracas to prepare for an "imperialist" invasion, US Vice President Mike Pence sought to calm concerns in the region about Trump's talk, promising a peaceful solution to Venezuela's "collapse into dictatorship."

Maduro, who is struggling with a disintegrating economy at home and increasing diplomatic isolation abroad, has used Trump's comments on Friday to reaffirm long-standing accusations that Washington is preparing a military attack.

Supporters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attend a rally against US President Donald Trump in Caracas, Venezuela, August 14, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"Everyone has to join the defense plan, millions of men and women, let's see how the American imperialists like it," Maduro told supporters, urging them to join the two-day operation on August 26 and 27 involving both soldiers and civilians.

Thousands of government supporters rallied in Caracas where they denounced Trump's suggestion of a "military option" to resolve Venezuela's crisis.

Over 120 people have been killed since anti-government protests began in April, driven by outrage over shortages of food and medicine and Maduro's creation of a legislative superbody that governments around the world say is dictatorial.

Maduro said Trump's advisors had confused him about the true situation in Venezuela.

"I want to talk by phone with Mr. Trump, to tell him 'They're fooling you, Trump, everything they tell you about Venezuela is a lie. They're throwing you off a cliff.'"

The White House last week rebuffed Maduro's request to speak to Trump, saying the president would talk with Venezuela's leader when the country returned to democracy.

Source(s): Reuters