Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told supporters in Caracas that he would “never, ever betray” the Venezuelan people, repeating the pledge of loyalty he made at Hugo Chavez’s funeral.
Maduro accused the US of trying to destabilize his government through a “22-week psychological aggression” and said Venezuela seeks a peace based on “sovereignty and freedom, not colonialism.”
Tensions with Washington have escalated as the US links Venezuelan officials to drug trafficking and has carried out 21 deadly anti-smuggling operations in the region since September. Trump recently confirmed a phone call with Maduro but gave no details.