WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th February, 2019) The United States continues to hope for a peaceful transition of power in the crisis-torn Venezuela, US Vice Present Mike Peace said during his visit to Columbia.
Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president immediately after he had declared himself interim president. Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro said that the United States was attempting to orchestrate a coup in Venezuela.
"We remain hopeful that there will be a peaceful transition of power, that the judiciary in Venezuela may well step forward and recognize the legitimacy of the National Assembly and Juan Guaido' role as the only legitimate president of Venezuela," Pence said on Monday.
Pence spoke after meeting with Guaido in the Columbian capital of Bogota, where the members of the Lima Group held a meeting on the situation in the Latin American country.
Asked what the red line would be for the United States, Pence said, "That would be a matter for the president of the United States to determine in consultation with our allies. We're always going to act in a way that advances our vital national interests."
Russia, China, Turkey and a number of other states have voiced their support for the legitimate government of Maduro after Guido's self-proclamation. Mexico and Uruguay have refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and calling for crisis settlement via dialogue.
