Puerto Rico’s governor knowledgeable President-elect Donald Trump on Monday that she is able to work with him on responding to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s “open menace” to invade the US territory.
In a letter to the incoming president, Republican Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón famous that she totally expects the Trump administration to “swiftly reply” to Maduro’s weekend saber-rattling and warned that the “murderous” dictator is trying to “develop his affect” within the area.
“Yesterday, just some days after holding an illegitimate swearing-in ceremony in a determined try and cling on to energy in Venezuela, socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro publicly proposed an invasion of Puerto Rico,” learn González-Colón’s missive to the president-elect.
“That is an open menace to america, our nationwide safety, and stability within the area,” the governor added. “I belief your incoming administration will swiftly reply and clarify to the Maduro regime that, beneath your management, america will defend American lives and sovereignty and won’t bow right down to the threats of petty, murderous dictators.”
Maduro, 62, issued the ominous warning on Saturday throughout a speech on the Worldwide Anti-Fascist Competition in Venezuela’s capital metropolis of Caracas.
“Simply as within the north they’ve a colonization agenda, we have now a liberation agenda,” Maduro stated on the occasion.
“And our agenda was written by Simón Bolívar,” he added, invoking the Nineteenth-century South American revolutionary. “The liberty of Puerto Rico is pending, and we’ll obtain it with Brazilian troops.”
Maduro’s menace got here a day after he was sworn in for a brand new time period as president of Venezuela, a place he’s clung to since 2013.
America and a number of other different Western powers have decried final yr’s elections in Venezuela as “illegitimate,” arguing that Maduro’s repressive socialist regime stole the vote.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) on Tuesday slammed Maduro’s menace to invade Puerto Rico as “absurd and pathetic,” whereas praising González-Colón’s management in condemning the strongman’s comment.
“With Biden within the White Home, adversaries equivalent to these throughout the Maduro narco-dictatorship have been emboldened by his weak coverage of appeasement,” Diaz-Balart argued.
“However in lower than every week, a brand new overseas coverage will start the place freedom and US nationwide safety pursuits are paramount,” he added, referring to the incoming Trump administration. “Mates will probably be handled as associates, and adversaries as adversaries.”
“Maduro’s days are numbered. If the dictator in Venezuela doesn’t need to find yourself like different dictators [Benito] Mussolini and [Muammar] Gaddafi, he ought to depart Venezuela immediately,” Diaz-Balart asserted, referencing the deposed leaders of fascist Italy and Libya, who have been each summarily executed upon being overthrown.
González-Colón advised Trump that Puerto Ricans have been “proud Americans since 1917” and have “repeatedly rejected” efforts to make the island an unbiased nation – which she suggests is Maduro’s hope.
“Maduro’s requires an invasion are a transparent try and do away with america presence and develop his affect within the space,” she wrote.
“As Governor of Puerto Rico, I’m able to work with you and your administration to counter this and different threats posed by the illegitimate Maduro dictatorship and assist the folks of Venezuela of their quest for freedom,” the governor added. “I additionally stay up for partaking in significant discussions on easy methods to greatest improve Puerto Rico’s nationwide safety function and take a powerful stance in opposition to the rising presence of our adversaries within the area.”
The Trump transition workforce didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s request for remark.
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