Iran Press/America: In a speech at a military base where several thousand servicemen were present, president Nicolas Maduro told soldiers: "Be ready to defend the country with weapons in hand if one day the North American empire dares to touch this land."
It comes as opposition leader Juan Guaido is expected to make a fresh bid to woo the armed forces with protests at Venezuela's military bases, Sputnik news agency reported.
Guaido called on civilians and military on Tuesday to join his attempted coup, saying that he had the backing of the armed forces. The attempted coup fizzled out because very few civilians and military officers joined the coup.
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On the other hand, key figures from US President Donald Trump’s national security team gathered at the Pentagon Friday morning to discuss options for military action in Venezuela, as violent clashes continued between forces backing embattled President Nicolás Maduro and supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
The meeting took place in a secure conference room known as the 'tank,' acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told a small group of reporters hours later. He declined to specify what options were being considered but did not rule out US military action against Maduro.
The Trump administration is trying to apply economic pressure to Venezuela's left-leaning government, headed by president Nicolas Maduro, and at the same time the administration has also threatened to take military action against Venezuela.
US Secretary of State defended sanctions on Venezuela and said the United States would not quit the fight in the socialist-run Latin American nation which is spiralling into a deepening economic and political crisis.
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The new political crisis in Venezuela began when Juan Guaido called himself president on 23 January, with the Trump administration immediately backing his claim. The Venezuelan government described Guido's action as an attempted coup d'etat against the elected president Nicholas Maduro.
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