US senator says Maduro’s capture will spark broader change in Latin America VIDEO

On January 7, U.S. Republican Senator Rick Scott said that the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro could herald wider political change across Latin America, signalling support for further shifts in Cuba, Nicaragua and Colombia.

Scott said developments in Venezuela under the administration of President Donald Trump were the beginning of a broader transformation in the region, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“What they did in Venezuela is going to change Latin America,” Scott said. “This is the start of changing Venezuela. Then we’re gonna fix Cuba, Nicaragua will get fixed, next year we’ll get a new president in Colombia. Democracy is coming back to this hemisphere.” 

Trump and other senior U.S. officials have framed Maduro’s removal as a major foreign policy victory and have pointed to Cuba as a possible next focus of pressure.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a separate comment that U.S. officials were open about their stance on Havana’s government, saying: “I don't think it's any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime, who, by the way, are the ones that were propping up Maduro.” 

Trump, speaking separately, commented on Cuba’s situation, saying: “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned. I think Cuba is going to be something we'll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now, a very badly failing nation, and we want to help the people.” 

U.S. military and diplomatic involvement in Venezuela has drawn international attention and condemnation from some regional governments, but Scott said the current actions could reverberate beyond one country.

By Aghakazim Guliyev