Venezuela’s Military Backs Maduro
Announcement comes a day after Juan Guaidó, head of the national assembly, declared himself president
From the beginning of the Trump administration, critics have chided President Trump for not working more closely with allies. But right now the U.S. is working with allies in Venezuela. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains. Photo: Getty
Venezuela’s military threw its support behind embattled President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday, dealing a significant blow to the U.S. effort to back a parallel government and oust the authoritarian leader.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, flanked by the heads of the country’s armed forces, said the military would oppose any effort to remove Mr. Maduro, who began a second, six-year term this month after elections last year that were widely regarded as a sham. He ended his speech with shouts of “Chávez vive,” a reference to...