Venezuelan Opposition Held 'Positive' Talks With US State, Defense Departments - Envoy

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st May, 2019) Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's representative in the United States, Carlos Vecchio, in a statement on Monday said they had positive talks with officials from the US State Department and the Pentagon.

Guaido after launching a failed coup at the end of April has formally requested US military assistance in overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the country's twice democratically-elected head of state. Vecchio last week said they had reached out to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to discuss conducting military operations against Venezuela.

"Meetings scheduled for today with the US State Department and the Pentagon have been held to discuss all aspects of the crisis in Venezuela. Very positive. We continue to make progress," Vecchio said in a Twitter post.

In a separate statement, Guaido said they are moving forward on building capacities and international cooperation that will allow the crisis in Venezuela to end and begin the reconstruction of the country.

The situation in Venezuela remains tense since January when Guaido, extra-constitutionally, proclaimed himself to be the country's interim president. Washington and its allies endorsed Guaido and called on Maduro to step down. Guado is not recognized by nearly three-fourths of UN member states. Moreover, the United States seized billions of Dollars' worth of Venezuelan oil assets.

Maduro, in turn, has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido as its puppet and take over Venezuela's natural resources. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.