Venezuela aid trucks arrive in Colombia as European Union calls for dialogue

The U.S. government is also weighing possible sanctions on Cuban military and intelligence officials whom it says are helping Maduro remain in power, a second U.S. official and person familiar with the deliberations have told Reuters.

Lorries carrying United States humanitarian aid have arrived close to the Venezuelan border as a stand-off between President Maduro and the western democratic world escalates.

The vehicles, loaded with food and medical supplies, were seen pulling into a collection centre on the Colombian side of the Tienditas border bridge, which is blocked by Venezuelan troops.

OPEC figures show that Venezuela's crude oil production dropped by another 33,000 bpd from November to just 1.148 million bpd in December, compared to average 1.911 million for 2017.

On Thursday, he appeared in an event at the presidential palace as part of a campaign by government supporters demanding an end to US aggression against Venezuela. Do you think that Venezuela is going to give up and will obey your orders?

Major European countries have joined the United States in backing Guaido but they have stopped short of the sweeping oil sanctions and financial measures that Washington has imposed. "Venezuela is not suffering the humanitarian crisis fabricated by Washington over the last four years to justify intervening in our country".

"If the White House's goal is regime change in Venezuela, which appears to be the case, then they should be concerned that their actions are generating a backlash against the U.S.in Venezuela and in the region", said Main.

Not only ordinary Venezuelan people have been fleeing poverty and hyperinflation in the Latin American country in recent years.

"The time for dialogue with Maduro has long passed".

So, can worldwide pressure change the situation in Venezuela?

The websites of Venezuelan embassies in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico on Thursday posted statements recognizing Guaido, which the embassies quickly dismissed as the work of hackers, reiterating "absolute support" for Maduro.

Guaido recently downplayed the need for USA intervention in Venezuela during an interview with VOA in which he said, "We will as a sovereign Venezuelan people do what is necessary to achieve stability in our country".

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