Trump considering 'blockade' or ‘quarantine’ of Venezuela

Published time: 2 Aug, 2019 00:11

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A helicopter takes off from the heliport of the US Navy hospital ship the USNS Comfort, off the coast of Riohacha, Colombia November 27, 2018. © REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Having slapped several rounds of sanctions on Venezuela, the next step for the US could take the pressure up a notch and place the country under a blockade or a quarantine, US President Donald Trump has said.

Trump made the off-hand remark, which may mean tons of additional hardship for the people of crisis-hit Venezuela, after he was asked by a reporter at the White House lawn if he has been considering a blockade or a quarantine of the Latin American country, “given the amount of foreign involvement from Russia, China, and Iran.”

‘Yes, I am,” the US president responded, without elaborating. The curt response prompted the journalist to ask again, only for Trump to triple down: “Yes, I am. Yes. Yes, I am."

Robbie Gramer

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Interesting exchange toward the end of Trump’s remarks with reporters before Maine One departure: Trump says US considering blockade on Venezuela

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It was the first time Trump broached the subject of an actual blockade of Venezuela. Since recognizing self-proclaimed ‘interim president’ Juan Guaido in January, Washington has unleashed a crackdown on Venezuela’s state-owned oil industry, banking sector and individual officials, while pressuring third countries such as Cuba, who had chosen to stand by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, into withdrawing their support

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month called on “every foreign power”to leave Venezuela, so the Venezuelan people can “take back” the country and rebuild it in a way acceptable for the US. By “foreign powers,” Pompeo meant Russia, China, Iran and Cuba, which do not recognize Guaido's Washington-invested authority.

Washington has been openly pushing for regime change in Venezuela, but so far Guaido has not prevailed, with a botched coup attempt on April 30 showing a lack of support for him among the military.