Trudeau rallies Venezuela neighbours in support of Guaido

Bloomberg

Justin Trudeau brought together Venezuela’s neighbors to voice support for a peaceful handover of power, making a modest pledge of humanitarian aid for the country and those who’ve fled economic crisis under the regime of Nicolas Maduro.
The Canadian prime minister hosted the Lima Group, which includes Brazil, Colombia and other Latin American nations, in Ottawa. The group recognized Juan Guaido as interim president and welcomed his Venezuelan government-in-waiting into its ranks as Maduro digs in against international pressure spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.
“Everyone here today wants the same thing for Venezuela, a peaceful transition to democracy, free and fair elections, a return of political accountability and transparency and the respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Venezuelans,” Trudeau’s foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, told reporters after the meeting wrapped up.
Pressed about the possibility of military intervention, she cited the commitment in the Lima Group’s communique calling for a peaceful transition “without the use of force.” The Trump administration maintains that all options remain on the table. Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio said the Lima Group is focused on getting humanitarian aid into the country and called on Venezuela’s military not to interfere. “We have also urged the national armed forces of Venezuela to recognize their commander in chief Juan Guaido, the acting president,’’ he said through a translator.
Guaido’s envoy to Canada, Orlando Viera-Blanco, praised the group’s focus on providing aid to Venezuela, including such basics as food and medicine. Trudeau said at the start of the meeting that Canada would provide C$53 million ($40 million) in humanitarian funding. The bulk of the funds will go to “trusted partners and neighboring countries,” he said
Gregory Weeks, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, said aid pledges “are clearly pledges of support for Guaido” but noted that funds and supplies sent to neighboring countries or through multilateral agencies might be preferable. “If it gets sent to Venezuela directly, as the US is planning, then the chance for confrontation is high,” Weeks said in a phone interview. “This is risky for any country that attempts it.”

Too Long
But for too long in the oil-rich South American nation, Trudeau said, the international community has witnessed “a dictatorship willing to use force, fear and coercion to retain power. The violation of human rights and the complete disregard for the rule of law shown by the regime has been both inexcusable and unacceptable.” Absent from meeting was Mexico. Once a Lima Group member, it isn’t participating under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The group also welcomed delegations from the US, the UK, Germany, Spain and others. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined the discussion via video link and Trump’s ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft, attended in person.