US urges Americans to leave Venezuela ‘immediately’ due to risks
Washington, Jan 11 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs on Saturday warned that as international flights have resumed, US citizens in Venezuela “should leave the country immediately.”
The bureau said in a post on X that the security situation in Venezuela “remains fluid” and there are “reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of US citizenship or support for the United States.”
US citizens are advised to “remain vigilant and exercise caution” when traveling by road and to monitor airlines’ communications and websites for updated information, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level — Level 4: Do Not Travel — due to severe risks to Americans, including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure,” the bureau said.
The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of January 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The strikes have drawn worldwide condemnation and concern.
Meanwhile, earlier on Friday President Donald Trump said that he expects to meet representatives of Venezuela’s current leadership soon, signaling a possible diplomatic engagement following recent US actions and a shift in relations between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said discussions with Venezuelan figures were likely in the near term, though no formal date had been set.
“I will be meeting with various representatives of Venezuela, probably pretty soon,” Trump said.
He said the relationship between Washington and those currently running Venezuela had improved significantly.
“The relationship that we have with the people that are currently running Venezuela is very good,” Trump said.
Trump said the United States was dealing directly with Venezuelan authorities in a way that avoided further escalation.
“We’re dealing with the people from Venezuela,” he said. “We’re dealing with them very well.”
He suggested that recent US military action and pressure had created leverage that prevented further conflict.
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