Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro lacks “the legal authority” to expel American diplomats, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.
Maduro ordered the departure of American officials earlier Wednesday after President Trump announced his support for a leading opposition figure who has claimed the constitutional authority to supplant the socialist strongman. Trump backed Maduro’s ouster by affirming that National Assembly President Juan Guaido stands as the interim president of the country, days after the lawmaker declared Maduro’s inauguration invalid and invoked a constitutional provision authorizing him to assume the presidency and oversee new elections.
“The United States maintains diplomatic relations with Venezuela and will conduct our relations with Venezuela through the government of interim President Guaido, who has invited our mission to remain in Venezuela,” Pompeo said.
That is an interesting argument that makes any attack on the US delegation in Venezuela and attack on the US. I am not sure Maduro is smart enough to comprehend what a mistake such an attack would be. Other countries have also recognized the interim government and the people in the streets are looking like a general uprising against Maduro. He may need to make an emergency flight to Cuba.