Maduro: An Attack on Venezuela Will Trigger Reactions from Arab and Islamic Nations

Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, on Wednesday, February 13, called on Arab and Islamic countries to express solidarity with Venezuela. In an exclusive interview with the Al-Mayadeen news network, which will be broadcast in full on Wednesday evening, he stated that "an attack on Venezuela will not go without a reaction from Arab and Islamic nations." He also described his rival, Juan Guaido, as a "puppet" of foreign countries. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, in connection with the Venezuelan crisis, stated on February 3 in an interview with CBS that military intervention is "definitely one of the options." The socialist government of Venezuela, which is a staunch opponent of U.S. policies, has a close relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran among Islamic countries, but it does not have warm relations with many Arab countries allied with the U.S. Russia and China, Maduro's allies, have injected billions of dollars into Venezuela's economy through "oil for loans" contracts, and Iran has also had economic cooperation with this country, but there has been no report of widespread support from Arab or Islamic governments or peoples for Maduro's government. On the other hand, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently stated that Hezbollah has active units in Venezuela and that this Iran-aligned force finances part of its activities through drug trafficking in Latin America. In a statement issued in February, Hezbollah expressed support for Nicolas Maduro and described the Venezuelan president's opponents as "U.S.-backed coup plotters." Hezbollah is among the groups supported by the Islamic Republic, which is designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and Europe. In a recent interview with Fox News, Pompeo emphasized that the U.S. will address the risks posed by Hezbollah, including the infiltration of this organization into Latin America, at the Warsaw conference, which is titled "Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East" and will be held for two days on February 13 and 14. Nicolas Maduro, who has recently begun a new presidential term in Venezuela, is facing hyperinflation, economic collapse, and a mass exodus of citizens to neighboring countries. Maduro's opponents have accused him of preventing the presence of his main rivals in last year's elections and creating conditions for dictatorship in the country. Juan Guaido, the head of the parliament and leader of the opposition, recently declared himself the interim president of Venezuela in front of tens of thousands in Caracas and promised to overthrow Maduro's "dictatorship." The U.S. and its allies have expressed support for Guaido. In his interview with Al-Mayadeen, Maduro accused Guaido of being a "mercenary and a tool of foreign countries" and stated that "Guaido's sovereignty is an illusion." Maduro also accused news media of spreading false news about his country. In this context, Venezuela is at the Security Council; the U.S. and Russia have each prepared a resolution. Maduro's opponents have called for humanitarian aid to enter Venezuela, and the UN Secretary-General has proposed assistance to help resolve the Venezuelan crisis. The U.S. is working to pass a resolution on Venezuela's elections at the Security Council. There is severe government repression and the risk of protests becoming "underground." What doctors and eyewitnesses recount about the injured in the protests reveals the situation. The limitations of relations between China and Iran have become apparent amid the protests.