Maduro says he may go to the US to challenge Obama.
After his country was declared a threat to U.S. national security, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stated this Friday, the 13th, at a book fair preparing an event in Washington to put pressure against the measure: "We demand, through all world diplomatic channels, that President Obama rectify and revoke the immoral decree that declares Venezuela a threat to the United States," he said. The Maduro government demanded proof of Venezuela's threat to U.S. security; on the other hand, it accuses Washington of aiding coup plotters and preparing a military intervention in the country.
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ridiculed the United States' decision to classify the country as a threat to its security and said he might go to Washington to challenge U.S. President Barack Obama.
"We demand, through all diplomatic channels worldwide, that President Obama rectify and revoke the immoral decree that declares Venezuela a threat to the United States," Maduro said Thursday night.
In the worst clash between ideological enemies since Maduro took office in 2013, the US declared a "national emergency" earlier this week due to Venezuela's "unusual and extraordinary threat," and imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials, accusing them of corruption and human rights violations.
The Maduro government demanded proof of Venezuela's threat to US security. Conversely, it accused Washington of aiding coup plotters and preparing a military intervention in the country.
US officials say Obama's intention is to change the Venezuelan government's ways, not to overthrow it.
Speaking at a book fair, Maduro, 52, successor to Hugo Chávez – a fierce opponent of the US – said that Venezuela is preparing an event in Washington to exert pressure.
"Perhaps I'll show up in Washington at that exhibition, to show my face for my country and tell the government in Washington that it's making serious mistakes," he said. No further details about the event in the U.S. were given.
Venezuela has also been demanding that the United States reduce the number of staff at its embassy in Caracas from 100 to 17 people, a dispute that has led to it dominating local headlines and overshadowing the economic crisis.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles accused Maduro of using the dispute as a smokescreen. "Inflation is through the roof. So is scarcity. Murders and poverty are on the rise. And the shameless rulers are talking about invasion," he tweeted.
The coalition of opposition groups in Venezuela seeks to distance itself from any perception of supporting foreign intervention in the country's affairs, while simultaneously endorsing accusations of repression and corruption.
Several of Maduro's allies, including Russia and Argentina, sent messages of support to Venezuela, as did Unasur, the South American regional bloc, while critics of US foreign policy protested against the government's actions.
"Venezuela is one of the few countries with significant oil reserves that does not submit to the dictates of the US," wrote Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who first published the documents leaked by former US spy Edward Snowden, who is now a fugitive. "These countries are always at the top of the US government and media's list to be demonized," he said.
Fueling nationalist sentiment, Maduro led an "anti-imperialist" march on Thursday. Over the weekend, the National Assembly is expected to grant him special powers to issue decrees that, he claims, are necessary following the US initiative to consider the country a threat to its security.
(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne, Jeremy Laurence)