US Envoy Elliott Abrams Heads to Colombia to Oversee Aid Delegation

Bolton delays Korea trip to focus on Venezuela

Jason Ditz 

Posted onFebruary 22, 2019CategoriesNewsTagsColombia, Trump, Venezuela

In a sign that the Trump Administration remains convinced that  an influx of aid into Venezuela is the key to imposing regime change, special envoy Elliott Abrams and a government delegation will be heading to Colombia, along the border with Venezuela, to oversee the buildup of aid there. 

The delegation is expected to depart Saturday from Miami. The US has been building up large amounts of aid at the Colombian border for awhile, but has been unable to force Venezuela to accept it.

Venezuelan officials deny that the shortages exist in the first place, and see the influx of aid as an attempt to interfere in the ongoing power struggle between President Maduro and US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido.

There seems to be little question that the aid is intended in great part to bolster Guaido, and US officials continue to insist that Maduro must step down unconditionally. President Maduro has threatened to close the border with Colombia to prevent the shipments reaching Guaido supporters.

Adding to signs the US is trying to escalate the Venezuela situation, John Bolton has reportedly canceled a planned South Korea visit over the weekend because the administration wants him to focus on Venezuela. Bolton is still expected to travel to Vietnam next week for the summit.

https://news.antiwar.com/2019/02/22/us-envoy-elliott-abrams-heads-to-colombia-to-oversee-aid-delegation/