Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro repeatedly blamed the ongoing political crisis in the country, which flared up after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president, on the US, saying that it was reasoned by Trump’s “infected hand” that is “hurting Venezuela”.
Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino López, stated on Tuesday that if the opposition seeks to impose “a puppet government”, it will have to pass over “our dead bodies.”
Commenting on the state of the country’s senior military officers, the minister stressed that they remain “obedient and subordinate” to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
He emphasised that state armed forces will continue being stationed along Venezuela’s border to thwart possible territorial threats.