Speaking on the eve of the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) head of the Russian General Staff's Main Intelligence Department Vice Admiral Igor Kostyukov said that Washington plans to use Colombia to change power in Venezuela.
"US subversive activities against the Bolivarian Republic are underway. Various options are being developed for the displacement of the "Chavist" government — from creating conditions for the growth of protest moods with their subsequent transformation into a social upheaval to the implementation of power projected scenarios against Caracas," the GRU head said. In his opinion, the United States, being afraid to use its army, intends to arrange an invasion of Venezuela "by means of its allies".
According to Kostyukov, the creation of illegal armed groups, including Venezuelan military absentees, members of criminal organizations in Central America, Colombian militia units, is in full swing. The military intelligence chief emphasized that these forces have been used to attack the infrastructure of Venezuela. However, Washington is not concerned about civilian sufferings following these actions.
The Moscow Conference on International Security saw several other speakers touching upon the Venezuelan issue besides the GRU head. Thus, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said: "Today there are a number of countries that have fallen victim of outside hybrid influence, primarily from the United States, and their list is being updated. Venezuela is the most recent example." The hybrid influence, he explained, refers to the "economic and political pressure to bypass the UN resolutions and norms of international law".
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Washington "is taking up the Monroe doctrine, which aims to limit the sovereignty of Latin American countries, to put pressure on those who do not follow the same policies as Washington."
Indeed, guided by the updated "Monroe doctrine", which is nearly two hundred years old, Washington openly raises the issues of providing economic, military-technical, humanitarian and other assistance to the countries of Latin America, depending on their stance regarding the current global challenges. Thus, the US is seeking to promote its interests in the region, including pressure on the undesirable countries, Venezuela in this specific case.
It is worth noting here that the US spends an annual 1.5 billion dollars to "gain power" in Latin America, which only destabilizes the situation in this region. The results of Washington's activities of this kind are already clearly visible in other parts of the world, in particular Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya.
In January this year mass protests began in Venezuela against the legitimate President Nicolas Maduro. Head of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó declared himself interim President. The US, the EU and some other countries supported him. Russia, as well as China, Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia and a number of other countries supported the current leader of Venezuela. Moscow referred to Guaidó's "presidential status" as non-existent.
The situation in Venezuela is still tense and greatly aggravated by sanctions imposed by the West. Thus, Washington has blocked the assets of the PDVSA state oil company and banned transactions with it, depriving Venezuela of more than 10 billion dollars. In turn, UK banks refuse to return to Venezuela 80 tons of its gold reserves totaling 420 million pounds (about 550 million dollars). According to the Times newspaper, the British side fears that President Nicolas Maduro "may seize the gold that belongs to the state" and use it for personal interests. Apparently, the British media outlet failed to come up with anything more sophisticated.
Moreover, as stated by official Caracas, the United States has organized attacks against Venezuelan power plants. In March alone several high-profile incidents occurred at Venezuelan hydroelectric power stations that provoked a large-scale blackout. The national Corpoelec corporation called it a diversion and an episode of the energy war against Caracas.
Keeping in mind the latest developments involving Venezuela, we can assume with a certain degree of probability that the United States has written a Libyan scenario for this country, including its splitting up, and in store for the president is the fate of Muammar Gaddafi. There are apparently a great many options to punish the rebellious Venezuela, and Washington is ready to explore every avenue.
This is no longer concealed in the United States itself and countries cozying up with it, i.e. Brazil and Colombia that are ready to launch an invasion of Venezuela and a separation of a number of its regions. Among other things, such plans are becoming increasingly popular among the foreign media. So, early April witnessed a direct statement coming from The American Spectator: "Venezuela: The Next Syria." "The only thing holding Venezuela together was Maduro’s military... US military intervention there is necessary — even urgently so... Time is not on our side."
In turn, the Spanish Rebelion news portal recently reported the details of the "balkanization" of Venezuela by Washington: "Michael Pompeo discusses in Brazil, Chile, Colombia support for US policy on the dismemberment of Venezuela. First there was an attempt to create a so-called "liberated zone" in the Tachira State bordering Colombia, across which on February 23 there was an attempt to import American "humanitarian aid" to Venezuela that it did not ask for. Sort of a Trojan Horse of a possible invasion, with Colombians to play a major part." But this never happened.
However, Washington is obviously not going to stop there and is ready to make new attempts to destroy the legitimate government of President Maduro in Venezuela. At least, this follows from the statements by head of the GRU Igor Kostyukov. And as former UN independent expert Alfred-Maurice de Zayas recently said, the United States could launch a military intervention in Venezuela under the pretext of a relevant request by leader of the Venezuelan opposition Juan Guaidó, whom Washington recognizes as the legitimate head of state.
