[News] US Blocks UNSC Draft Resolution Denouncing Paramilitary Incursion into Venezuela

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14884 US Blocks UNSC Draft Resolution
Denouncing Paramilitary Incursion into Venezuela
By Ricardo Vaz - May 22, 2020
------------------------------

Mérida, May 22, 2020 (venezuelanalysis.com) - The United States rejected a
Russia-proposed UN Security Council (UNSC) draft condemning a recent coup
attempt in Venezuela.

During a virtual session of the UNSC on Wednesday, Russian Permanent
Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy presented a
resolution <https://twitter.com/Dpol_un/status/1263195520631296003/photo/1>
calling on member-states to reject the “use of force… terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations… [and] the use of mercenaries.”

On May 3 and 4, Venezuelan forces neutralized
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14861> two speedboats carrying armed
groups off the country’s Caribbean coast. US special forces veteran Jordan
Goudreau <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14859> claimed to have
orchestrated the 60-man incursion together with retired Venezuelan Major
General Cliver Alcala <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14827>, which was
aimed at overthrowing the Maduro government. Venezuelan authorities have
made dozens of arrests <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14869> in
connection with so-called “Operation Gedeon,” including
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14864> two former US green berets, Luke
Denman and Airan Berry.

Russia’s ambassador later complained
<https://twitter.com/Dpol_un/status/1263195520631296003/photo/1> that the
resolution was “killed” by the US in “nine minutes” despite the draft
containing “no accusations, only support of basic common things.”

For its part, China voiced support for Venezuelan sovereignty while
blasting US sanctions against Caracas.Other countries, including Indonesia,
South Africa and Vietnam, also criticized meddling in foreign countries’
affairs and voiced support for dialogue.

US representative Kelly Craft “categorically” denied any involvement in
Operation Gedeon, accusing Russia and Cuba of “violating Venezuela’s
sovereignty” by maintaining military cooperation agreements with the
Caribbean nation.

The UNSC session came on the heels of fresh revelations concerning the
thwarted invasion.

On Monday, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez disclosed a series of
leaked audio recordings allegedly involving Alcala, Gedeon commander
Antonio Sequea, and other individuals discussing the plans.

Rodriguez showed testimonies from Berry and Denman revealing the
operation’s supposed ties to Colombian drug traffickers. According to the
minister, the funding for the paramilitary training camps in Northern
Colombia was funnelled through the Futuro Presente NGO belonging to
opposition politician Yon Goicoechea.

A longtime leader in the hard-right Popular Will party, Goicoechea was
awarded <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/3384> the US $500,000 Milton
Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty in 2008. He was arrested
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/12252> in 2016 for alleged possession of
explosives and released <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13491> a year
later. Venezuela’s Attorney General announced a warrant for his arrest on
Thursday.

Goicoechea, who is currently outside Venezuela, has denied the charges,
claiming he is no longer involved with Futuro Presente and accusing the
government of being behind Operation Gedeon.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido had likewise dismissed it as a false flag,
before a leaked contract between the opposition and Goudreau led him to
shift the blame <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14869> to his advisors
J.J. Rendon and Sergio Vergara. Both have since resigned.

Following his self-proclamation <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14244>
as “interim president” in January 2019, with support from Washington and
its allies, Guaido has led several unsuccessful attempts to oust
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14453> the government. A series of
scandals have seen his popularity drop, with other opposition leaders
reportedly lobbying <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14876> Washington
for a leadership change.

*Edited and with additional reporting by Lucas Koerner from Santiago de
Chile.*
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