US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has appointed Elliott Abrams, a hawkish neoconservative, to handle US policy toward Venezuela.
“Elliott will be a true asset to our mission to help the Venezuelan people fully restore democracy and prosperity to their country,” Pompeo said on Friday in announcing Abrams’ appointment.
The top US diplomat said Abrams would accompany him to the United Nations on Saturday for a Security Council meeting on Venezuela where the US plans to pressure other countries to support Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.
Venezuela is convulsed by political crisis. On Wednesday, Guaido declared himself the “interim president” of the country, rejecting the presidency of Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn earlier after winning elections boycotted by the opposition.
On Friday, former US Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul denounced Washington’s backing for the…