Maduro says ‘not afraid of military combat’ in Venezuela

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CARACAS, Feb 18, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said
he is “not afraid of military combat,” accusing his US counterpart Donald
Trump of plotting to invade Venezuela with the support of regional allies.

“We don’t want war; we don’t want violence; we don’t want terrorism, but we
are not afraid of military combat and we are going to guarantee peace,” said
Maduro in a televised speech, surrounded by the armed forces high command.

“Donald Trump was convinced that it is easy to get into Venezuela,” said
the socialist leader, accusing the US of having assembled a “mercenary force”
to invade.

The US is one of more than 50 countries that have recognized opposition
leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president after Maduro’s 2018 re-
election was widely denounced as rigged.

Maduro, however, still enjoys the support of Turkey, Russia, China and
Cuba.

He also said there were groups of military “deserters” training in
neighboring Colombia to “enter silently and attack military units.”

Military exercises were carried out over the weekend, Maduro added, in
response to alleged attack plans orchestrated by the US, Colombia and Brazil.

According to official figures, some 2.4 million soldiers and members of the
civilian militia were deployed throughout the country.

The practices were carried out “based on real threats, not imagined ones,”
said defense minister General Vladimir Padrino, who was seated next to Maduro
during the president’s speech.

Trump vowed to “smash” Maduro’s rule in his annual State of the Union
address to Congress, which was also attended by Guaido, earlier this month.

Trump branded Maduro as a “tyrant” during his speech and called Guaido the
“legitimate president of Venezuela.”

After returning from a three-week international tour, Guaido said a change
of government in his country was “inevitable.”

On Sunday, he said the military had the opportunity to make the change less
“traumatic.”