Alwaght- Venezuela's Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino, has condemned comments made by US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, who hinted about the possibility of an internal military coup that would topple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Accompanied by high-ranking members of Venezuela's military, Padrino said "Members of the armed forces radically reject such deplorable remarks that constitute a vile act of interference... When you invite the armed forces to overthrow the government, you're showing a lack of respect.”
After his remarks, Padrino read an official statement expressing continued support for Maduro.
"many countries in the world have suffered from the long history of covert, clandestine operations, propaganda war, economic blockades and direct military interventions by the Government of the United States of America," He said, adding that "senseless threats against Venezuela demonstrate, once again," that the US government "has become the greatest agent of violence, discrimination, and humiliation in the world."
Yesterday, Tillerson raised the prospect of a military coup against Maduro, and seemingly praised past military dictatorships as "agents of change."
The US administration of Donald Trump has publicized its policy of pursuing regime change in Venezuela. Speaking in January 2017 before his confirmation, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared that he would pursue regime change in Venezuela.
Tillerson was an executive in ExxonMobil when in 2007, late Venezuelan President Chavez ordered the nationalization of 22 major multinational corporations operating in the country including ExxonMobil. The top US diplomat now appears to be on a revenge mission against the revolutionary Venezuelan government
