Umar Farooq
13 February 2019•Update: 14 February 2019
By Umar Farooq
WASHINGTON
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would look at all the different options in dealing with the current situation in Venezuela, but did not discuss a military intervention.
"I think there are a number of solutions, a number of different options, and we look at all options," Trump told reporters in the White House as he met with Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez.
Asked whether the U.S. would consider a military intervention in Venezuela, Trump said "I never talk about that."
This comes as a contradiction to earlier comments when he told CBS's News that using the military was an option in the Latin American country.
Duque's visit to Washington comes amid a continued diplomatic and economic push by the U.S. to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to cede power to National Assembly leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president on Jan. 23.
The U.S., Canada, most countries in Latin America and over 20 European nations have lent their backing to Guaido following the announcement. But Maduro has refused calls for him to step down, insisting Washington is orchestrating a coup.
China, Iran, Russia and Turkey have put their weight behind Maduro.
Earlier Wednesday, Eliot Engel, Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, ruled out any support for a military intervention in Venezuela, and criticized Trump's indications at a military option.
"I do worry about the president’s saber rattling, his hints that U.S. military intervention remains an option. I want to make clear to our witnesses and to anyone else watching: U.S. military intervention is not an option," the congressman said at a hearing.
