Venezuelan Opposition Leader Rejects Mediation from Mexico and Uruguay

Juan Guaidó, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, rejected the proposal from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay for mediation between him and Nicolás Maduro on Friday. According to the Associated Press, Guaidó requested in a letter to the leaders of these two countries to support the demands of Venezuelans. The opposition leader wrote: 'At this historic moment our country is going through, neutrality is akin to standing alongside a government that has condemned hundreds of thousands to misery, hunger, and exile, including death.' Guaidó extended a hand of friendship to Maduro's biggest supporters. Last week, Guaidó declared himself the interim president of Venezuela in front of tens of thousands in Caracas, pledging to overthrow Maduro's 'dictatorship.' The United States and dozens of countries around the world have recognized Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela, while Russia, China, Turkey, Cuba, and Iran have supported Nicolás Maduro. Meanwhile, opposition groups are set to hold nationwide protests in Venezuela on Saturday. In another development, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton stated on Friday that a U.S. military intervention is not imminent but emphasized that all options are on the table. In a radio interview, Bolton responded to a question about whether military intervention by the U.S., Brazil, Colombia, or all three is likely, saying, 'No!' He added, 'The president has said that all options will be considered, but our goal is a peaceful transfer of power.' The Trump administration's policy has been to pressure for Maduro's ousting, having expressed support for Guaidó since the early days of the crisis in the country. The U.S. government recently sanctioned Venezuela's state oil company, and Bolton warned other countries against trading with Maduro's government regarding Venezuela's other assets, including gold. A senior official told Reuters that the Venezuelan government intends to sell 15 tons of its national gold reserves to the United Arab Emirates in the near future. In response to this news, Bolton accused Maduro on Twitter of 'removing Venezuela's assets' and said he is stealing 'the people's wealth of Venezuela.' Under Maduro's presidency, Venezuela has faced severe food shortages and hyperinflation, which is expected to reach 10 million percent this year. Additionally, it is reported that over three million people have fled the country due to the economic and political crisis.