Commander: U.S. Navy Ready to Act in Venezuela
RIO DE JANEIRO (Dispatches) -- The U.S. Navy is "ready” to act in favor of Washington’s interests in Venezuela, says a top American commander.
U.S. Southern Command chief Admiral Craig Faller made the remarks here Monday as the United States kicked off its annual UNITAS maritime exercise.
"I won't speak to details of what we're planning and what we're doing, but we remain ready to implement policy decisions and we remain on the balls of our feet," Faller told reporters.
He further bragged about the U.S. military might, saying the navy is ready to do "what needs to be done”.
"The United States Navy is the most powerful navy in the world. If a policy decision is made to deploy the navy, I'm convinced that we'll be able to do what needs to be done."
He further vowed that the U.S. would topple the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
"The U.S. government focus continues to be to place focused and targeted pressure on an illegitimate regime to ensure there's a transition to a legitimate, democratic government," Faller said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously asserted that his administration was considering a "blockade or quarantine" against the Latin American nation.
Faller said the UNITAS military drills would "send a message” to the rest of the world.
"Naval exercises send a message to the world of what democracies that work together can do across a range of complex threats," he said.
Faller, nevertheless, warned against Venezuela’s "formidable weapon system” and criticized Cuba, Russia and China for assisting Maduro, saying it was important to put "continuous pressure” on his government.
Faller also shared concern about the growing influence of China in Brazil. China is the South American country’s largest foreign investor.
According to Dan Kovalik, an author and political analyst in Pennsylvania, the United States is waging an all-out economic war against the people of Venezuela only because they rejected the U.S.-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido and refused to oust President Maduro.
U.S. Southern Command chief Admiral Craig Faller made the remarks here Monday as the United States kicked off its annual UNITAS maritime exercise.
"I won't speak to details of what we're planning and what we're doing, but we remain ready to implement policy decisions and we remain on the balls of our feet," Faller told reporters.
He further bragged about the U.S. military might, saying the navy is ready to do "what needs to be done”.
"The United States Navy is the most powerful navy in the world. If a policy decision is made to deploy the navy, I'm convinced that we'll be able to do what needs to be done."
He further vowed that the U.S. would topple the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
"The U.S. government focus continues to be to place focused and targeted pressure on an illegitimate regime to ensure there's a transition to a legitimate, democratic government," Faller said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously asserted that his administration was considering a "blockade or quarantine" against the Latin American nation.
Faller said the UNITAS military drills would "send a message” to the rest of the world.
"Naval exercises send a message to the world of what democracies that work together can do across a range of complex threats," he said.
Faller, nevertheless, warned against Venezuela’s "formidable weapon system” and criticized Cuba, Russia and China for assisting Maduro, saying it was important to put "continuous pressure” on his government.
Faller also shared concern about the growing influence of China in Brazil. China is the South American country’s largest foreign investor.
According to Dan Kovalik, an author and political analyst in Pennsylvania, the United States is waging an all-out economic war against the people of Venezuela only because they rejected the U.S.-backed opposition figure Juan Guaido and refused to oust President Maduro.