Maduro Claims Victory as Opposition Leader Guaido Calls for Second Day of Street Protests

Guaido supporter covering his face to mitigate the effect of tear gas

With military leaders at his side, President Nicolas Maduro has claimed to have defeated the military coup that opposition leader Juan Guaido declared was the “final phase of Operation Freedom” and his boldest step yet in his attempt to oust the current socialist dictator. After delivering a dawn address, Guaido quickly gained the verbal support of Secretary of State Pompeo, Vice President Pence, and Senator Marco Rubio as well as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Colombian President Ivan Dunque.

The current regime in Venezuela has claimed that the vast majority of the military supports Maduro, and Venezuela’s Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that the government would deal with the “small number of traitorous military personnel”.

The situation is under control…All military garrisons support Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. – Communication Vice Minister Isbemar Jimenez

The opposition, however, claims that the rank and file soldiers support Guaido and that only the elite of the military still support the regime.

Juan Guaido speaks to supports during the uprising

Despite Maduro’s claim of victory, the current status of the uprising is not wholly clear and had the potential to turn into Syria 2.0 as another proxy war between Washington and Russian/Chinese interests. Given Russia’s support for Maduro and their decision to build an arms factory capable of churning out 25,000 to 50,000 AKM and AK-103 rifles, it does not look likely that they will abandon their support in the near future.

Given the potential for the effects of the violence to spread to the United States thanks to a porous Southern border, readers should keep close tabs on the current situation in Venezuela.