“Venezuela has affected the region”

General Laura Richardson, head of the US Southern Command, reaffirmed on Thursday the commitment of Washington and its allies to reach a “diplomatic and political solution” to the crisis in Venezuela, aggravated after the elections of July 28.

Richardson made these remarks during an event at the residence of the Colombian ambassador to the United States, Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo, accompanied by Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo and Defense Minister Iván Velásquez Gómez.

The military official began her remarks by highlighting the collaboration of the United States with countries in the region, such as Colombia, which she calls “team democracy” for sharing similar values ​​and working together to confront security challenges in the region.

Asked about the situation in Venezuela, Richardson again referred to this “democracy team” as a fundamental part of the solution.

“What has happened in Venezuela has severely affected the region for years, causing the exodus of millions of people. We continue to work, as part of the global ‘democracy team’, in favor of a diplomatic and political solution for Venezuela,” said the head of the Southern Command.

The United States has been working closely with its Latin American allies to address the situation in Venezuela. Washington’s strategy has focused on finding ways to deal with Maduro’s continued hold on power, while continuing to support the Venezuelan opposition.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia and top opposition leader María Corina Machado that the United States “will continue to advocate for a return to democracy in Venezuela.”

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro’s re-election in the July 28 presidential election without publishing the voting records, a result that has been questioned both inside and outside the country.

The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the main opposition coalition led by Machado, claims victory for its candidate, González Urrutia, whose victory has been recognized by the United States.

González Urrutia recently went into exile in Spain, denouncing judicial and political persecution in Venezuela, but Machado maintains that the candidate will be sworn in as president on January 10th.