Greece recognizes Venezuela's Guaido, in line with EU

[Independent voter]

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece will follow the European Union’s line and recognize Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday, in an about-face after the new conservative government took power.

“The government of the Hellenic Republic warmly supports the EU’s efforts ... aimed at reaching a peaceful, democratic solution to the crisis for the benefit of the Venezuelan people,” the ministry said.

Greece’s previous leftist-led government had refrained from recognizing Guaido, who in January proclaimed a rival presidency in Venezuela until a new election could be held, in a challenge to president Nicolas Maduro.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-v...-idUSKCN1U713B


So Chavez was a general. He staged a violent coup to take over the Venezuelan government, but it failed. He then ran for the presidency, appealing to poor people much like Trump did. He won. Later, he got cancer and died. He picked Maduro as his successor. Maduro drove the once rich Venezuela into the ground.

As per their constitution, the Venezuelan congress elected a new president Juan Guaido. But Maduro won't leave. The highly corrupt generals who support Maduro are afraid they'll be put in prison if Maduro steps down.

Juan Guaido is recognized as the legitimate president by 90% of countries.

What can the world do to restore order in Venezuela?

[Draco-Onis]

Why does Greece matter?

[Mihalik]

[

What can the world do to restore order in Venezuela?

Nothing beyond not selling guns to Venezuela and embargoing and freezing the personal assets of all government officials, generals and oligarchs with ties to the government.

Beyond that we have to wait for the Venezuelan people to eventually pressure the Chavistas out of power.

Turning Venezuela into Cuba 2.0 is pointless and will just legitimize Maduro in the eyes of many. Further escalation would just also create a refugee crisis that's worse than it already is.

If Trump decides to fuck with Venezuela more than he already is, he doesn't get to bitch and moan about refugees arriving to the border.

We fucked with the Middle East and Europe is still dealing and will continue to have to deal with the fallout for years to come.

But unlike with the Middle East we can't just export our South American collateral damage to Europe as this time there's no ocean to separate us from our shitshow.

[CostinR]

If Trump decides to fuck with Venezuela more than he already is, he doesn't get to bitch and moan about refugees arriving to the border.

It's not really driven by Trump here. Almost all of Latin America has basically said: Maduro must go.

[Mihalik]

It's not really driven by Trump here. Almost all of Latin America has basically said: Maduro must go.

Nobody in Latin America will actually intervene militarily in Venezuela, they don't have the means or the desire to do so, let alone the political support.

Intervention in Venezuela is synonymous with the US sending in the Marines. There's no other form of intervention on the table.

Maduro controls the military, there's no armed insurgency to support or the elements for one to be put in place.

If there's is to be intervention it would have to be US troops.