The U.S. hopes the new far-right government in Brazil will support its approach to resolving the political and economic crises in Venezuela, said U.S. Secretary of State of Mike Pompeo on Wednesday.
Pompeo said he and Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo discussed threats coming from Venezuela during their meeting in Brasilia a day after the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro as the country’s new president.
Pompeo said he and Araujo also spoke about “our deep desire to return democracy to the Venezuelan people.’’
Bolsonaro has endorsed foreign policy positions similar to those of U.S. President Donald Trump, including criticising Venezuela’s leftist regime.
Pompeo, who also mentioned the “failed policies’’ of the communist government in Cuba, said the U.S. and Brazil “will have the opportunity to work alongside of each other against authoritarian regimes around the world.’’
Venezuela has been suffering from a severe economic crisis, leading to food and medicine shortages and the exodus of millions of people.
The crisis has become a problem for the whole region as neighbouring countries cope with the influx of refugees.
Socialist President Nicolas Maduro has taken oil-rich Venezuela in a more authoritarian direction since taking power in 2013.
Numerous opponents of his government have been jailed or fled the country, and most other countries have refused to recognise Maduro’s re-election in 2018.
The U.S. has dealt with the problem in part by sanctioning Maduro and officials in his government.
Pompeo was due to travel to Cartagena, Colombia, to meet President Ivan Duque. (dpa/NAN)
