Latin Americans condemn Trump over ”military response

The South American trading bloc Mercosur has condemned President Trump for saying he was considering military action in the Venezuela crisis. Argentina said dialogue and diplomacy were the only ways to promote democracy in Venezuela. Venezuela’s foreign minister said Mr Trump’s words had been hostile and disrespectful and risked destablising Latin America. Violent demonstrations since […]

The South American trading bloc Mercosur has condemned President Trump for saying he was considering military action in the Venezuela crisis.

Argentina said dialogue and diplomacy were the only ways to promote democracy in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s foreign minister said Mr Trump’s words had been hostile and disrespectful and risked destablising Latin America.

Violent demonstrations since April have left more than 120 people dead.

Mercosur – which includes the region’s largest economies, Argentina and Brazil as well as Paraguay and Uruguay – indefinitely suspended Venezuela’s membership last week.

Other Latin American countries also condemned Mr Trump’s comments, including Mexico, Colombia and Peru, which said Mr Trump’s threat was against UN principles.

Peru has been a fierce critic of Mr Maduro’s government. On Friday Peru expelled Venezuela’s ambassador after Caracas sent an “unacceptable” response to regional condemnation of its new constituent assembly.