An 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron airman observes a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. IMAGE: US Air Force
The US is working on regime change scenarios in Venezuela, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated during a weekly briefing in Moscow on February 7.
“There are still signs coming from Washington about the possibility of using force in order to overthrow the legal authorities, including through direct military invasion. This is actually being spoken about openly in the White House. I would like to recall that this kind of statement from the mouth of American officials is a direct violation of Article 2 Par. 4 of the UN Charter, ordering all UN members to refrain from the threat or use of force in international relations”, Zakharova she stressed.
Zakharova said that the decision on the use of force had already been made by Washington, “everything else is nothing more than a covering operation”.
“Washington has turned to direct threats of sanctions to the Venezuelan military, who remain loyal to the legitimate government. That is just a different, new reading of the ‘carrot and stick’ approach. On the one hand, they threaten a potential punishment. On the other hand, they promise a potential reward”, the diplomat said.
She pointed out that Washington has incited Venezuela’s military to commit crimes, promising them amnesty for betraying the country’s authorities.
Earlier, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the US was ready to waive sanctions on senior Venezuelan military officers if they pledge allegiance to US-proclaimed Venezuelan interim president Juan Guaido.
