US tells Russia, Cuba to keep 'hands off' Venezuela

By Michael Hernandez</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday warned Russia and Cuba to keep their &quot;hands off&quot; Venezuela amid an ongoing political stalemate in the Latin American nation. </p> <p>&quot;Maduro calls for hands off #Venezuela while he invites security forces from Cuba and Russia, so he and his cronies can keep plundering Venezuela,&quot; Pompeo said on Twitter, referring to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. &quot;It is time for Venezuelan institutions to stand for their sovereignty.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Russia and Cuba, #HandsOffVenezuela,&quot; he added.</p> <p>The American top diplomat's comments come on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump's warning earlier this week that Russia should withdraw forces from the country, issuing a veiled threat of military intervention to break the political deadlock after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the country's interim president in January. </p> <p>The U.S. was the first nation to recognize Guaido as Venezuela's leader, doing so within hours of his proclamation.</p> <p>Dozens of nations, including most in Latin America, have followed suit as Washington has ramped up diplomatic and economic pressure on Caracas, including sanctioning its state-run oil company. </p> <p>Maduro, who is strongly supported by Russia and Cuba, has refused to cede power, instead insisting he is the target of a U.S.-orchestrated coup. </p> <p>Moscow confirmed it sent two military planes to Venezuela last weekend that were reportedly loaded with troops and supplies. </p> <p>The political stalemate comes as Venezuela grapples with a worsening economic crisis that has led to acute shortages of goods and which has repeatedly resulted in widespread power outages. </p> <p>Its economy has been in precipitous decline following a global downturn in the price of crude oil, the country's main export.