WASHINGTON _ Vice President Mike Pence will meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido in Colombia Monday, two days after Guaido's call to use "all options" to liberate and restore democracy in Venezuela.
Senior administration officials said Sunday that Pence will meet briefly with Guaido, who is recognized by the United States as the legitimate interim president, before addressing regional leaders on the crisis in Venezuela. The crisis escalated over the weekend with violence at the border with Colombia as international aid was blocked. Hundreds were injured and at least four people died.
On Saturday, Guaido said the events of the weekend forced him to pose a formal request to the international community to consider "all options" in Venezuela. The statement was interpreted by members of the diplomatic community as a request for military assistance.
Pence will travel to Bogota, Colombia, Monday to address leaders of the 14-nation Lima Group who are wrestling with a regional response to the standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the U.S.-backed coalition trying to force humanitarian aid into Venezuela.
After meeting with Guaido, Pence will address the leaders and announce "concrete steps" that the Trump administration will take against the Maduro government, including possible financial sanctions. Pence will then meet with Venezuelan families who have had to flee their country.
The Lima Group is under pressure to stake out a strong position on the crisis, which has led to millions of Venezuelans flooding across the region. While the United States has taken a leading role, Trump officials say they will look to Latin American leaders for a statement defining the region's position that can be used to build global support.
U.S. officials promised that efforts to deliver aid would continue. The prospect of a military option was raised over the weekend after at least four people were killed and 300 hundred injured during clashes between Venezuelan forces and demonstrators.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who has been advising the Trump administration on Latin American policy, heightened speculation about the potential use of force after he said he spoke with regional leaders about the violence.
"It is now clear that the grave crimes committed today by the Maduro regime have opened the door to various potential multilateral actions not on the table just 24 hours ago," Rubio said on Twitter over the weekend.
Asked if the U.S. military is stationed in the region in the event of increased violence or an attack on U.S. personnel, U.S. officials would say only that Southern Command is involved in all the efforts, including the delivery of humanitarian ad.
