Guaido Says 3 US Military Jets With Humanitarian Aid Landed In Colombian Border City

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th February, 2019) Three US Air Force planes carrying humanitarian cargo for Venezuela have arrived in the Colombian border city of Cucuta, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said.

"More and more humanitarian aid is coming for Venezuela! We are pleased to confirm the arrival of three aircraft of the US Air Force carrying humanitarian aid," Guaido wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

The opposition leader expressed gratitude for support, adding that the humanitarian aid would cover needs of more than 25,000 Venezuelans.

The issue of humanitarian aid to Venezuela has become a matter of controversy in recent days amid Caracas' concerns that foreign countries could use such deliveries as a cover to achieve political or military objectives. On Friday, the US Defense Department told Sputnik that the US military would provide logistical support for the efforts to deliver humanitarian cargo for the crisis-torn country.

Guaido previously said that US humanitarian aid would be delivered to the country on February 23. The Venezuelan government headed by President Nicolas Maduro so far has refused to accept aid that the United States has delivered to neighboring Colombia, blasting it as a ploy to topple his government.

Tensions in Venezuela escalated on January 23, when Guaido, who is the speaker of the opposition-run National Assembly, declared himself interim president, disputing Maduro's re-election. Guaido was almost immediately recognized by the United States and its allies. Russia, China, Mexico, among other nations, voiced support for Maduro, who, in turn, accused Washington of orchestrating a coup.