Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday pledged his “absolute loyalty” to the Venezuelan people as tensions continue to rise with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking outside the presidential palace surrounded by senior officials on Monday (1 December), Maduro addressed supporters gathered for a rally organised to swear in new local leaders of the ruling PSUV socialist party.
“Just as I swore before the body of our commander Chávez, before saying farewell to him, absolute loyalty at the cost of my own life and peace, I now swear to you absolute loyalty beyond this life, through this beautiful and heroic story we are living,” Maduro declared, referring to his late predecessor Hugo Chávez.
“Be certain that I will never fail you — never, ever, never.”
Maduro was joined by his wife, Cilia Flores, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who wore a red baseball cap embroidered with the slogan “doubt is betrayal,” along with other senior officials.
Relations between Caracas and Washington have grown increasingly strained in recent months, following U.S. strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, threats by Trump to expand military operations onto Venezuelan soil, and the designation of the Cartel de los Soles which the U.S. claims includes Maduro as a foreign terrorist organisation. Maduro and his government have always denied all criminal accusations.
Maduro told Trump during the call last month that he was willing to leave Venezuela provided he and his family members had full legal amnesty, including the removal of all U.S. sanctions and the end of a flagship case he faces before the International Criminal Court, three of the sources said.
He also requested removal of sanctions for more than a 100 Venezuelan government officials, many accused by the U.S. of human rights abuses, drug trafficking or corruption, according to the three people.
Maduro asked that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez run an interim government ahead of new elections, according to two of the sources.
Trump rejected most of his requests on the call, which lasted less than 15 minutes, but told Maduro he had a week to leave Venezuela for the destination of his choice alongside his family members.
That safe passage expired on Friday, prompting Trump to declare on Saturday that Venezuela's airspace was closed, two of the sources said.
It's reported that the sources said on Monday (1 December) that President Trump was set to meet senior advisers to discuss Venezuela, after confirming on Sunday that he had spoken with Maduro in November.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan National Assembly on Monday postponed an extraordinary session that was due to discuss forming a commission to investigate the recent boat strikes. The Assembly’s press office said the debate was rescheduled for Tuesday, its usual sitting day.
U.S. forces have conducted at least 21 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, leaving at least 83 people dead.
Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez had announced Monday’s session after meeting relatives of those killed, saying the move was intended to safeguard the families.
Georgia has been formally integrated into the European Union's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), bringing Anaklia Deep-Sea Port, Georgi...
Türkiye’s foreign minister has renewed calls for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disarm and disband, during talks with...
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign ...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
European leaders are meeting in Finland for a high-level summit on Arctic security and cooperation as the region takes on greater strategic importance.
Amazon has paused its operations with 21 Air, the Miami-based cargo carrier that operated an Amazon Air flight which crashed at Miami International Airport last weekend, killing five people.
Voters in the southern Philippines are casting ballots in a historic election that could shape the future of one of the country’s most conflict-affected regions and put a decades-long peace process to a crucial test.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed back against growing calls for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry to slow down, arguing that maintaining America’s lead over China is more important.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment