By Elizabeth ADENUGA
Venezuela on Thursday
accused the U.S. and Colombia of intervening in its internal affairs and trying
to force regime change after Colombian President, Ivan Duque and U.S. Secretary
of State, Mike Pompeo criticised the situation in the country.
Pompeo gives “direct orders to governments that are subordinate to Washington,
with the goal that they escalate aggressive acts against the people of
Venezuela,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The statement accused Colombia of allowing its territory to be used to prepare
attacks – allegations Bogota has previously denied.
The Foreign Ministry said Duque was focusing on Venezuela in an attempt to
divert attention from “the resounding failure’’ of U.S. anti-drug policy in
Colombia and from “the pitiful state’’ of the government’s peace process with
the former guerrilla movement FARC.
The statement followed a Wednesday meeting between Pompeo and Duque in the
Colombian city of Cartagena, where the president called for unity against the
“dictatorship” in Venezuela.
Pompeo thanked Duque for helping Venezuelans – estimated to number more than a
million in Colombia – who have “fled” there across the common border.
Pompeo also said Washington and Bogota would work to halve the production of
coca – the plant cocaine is made from – by 2023 in Colombia.
The area under coca cultivation in the South American country increased by 11
per cent, to 209,000 hectares by June 2017, according to U.S. figures.
Pompeo earlier met Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, discussing stronger
cooperation to step up pressure on Venezuela.
Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in for a new term on Jan.10
following elections widely regarded as fraudulent.
