As Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro struggles to remain in control with economic strife and international pressure on the rise, national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday he thinks internal momentum in the South American country is building toward an ouster.
In an interview with ABC’s Martha Raddatz on “This Week,” Bolton said many people in the Venezuelan military and National Assembly are discussing how to transition to a government led by opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as the interim president of Venezuela by the United States and most Western countries.
“There are countless conversations going on between members of the National Assembly and members of the military in Venezuela talking about what might come, how they might move to support the opposition,” Bolton said.
In particular, Bolton argued Maduro’s grip on power is slipping as he and his loyalists in the military have not moved to arrest Guaido, who returned to the country on Monday after leaving the country last month and in doing so ignoring a travel ban imposed by Venezuela’s highest court, which revoked his passport.
“They have not sought to arrest Guaido,” Bolton said. “… and I think one reason for that is Maduro fears if he gave that order, it would not be obeyed.”
Raddatz played a clip of Maduro saying that he fears Bolton, calling him an “extremist and expert of the Cold War.” Bolton smiled as the clip played.
“Let me just say I’m honored to be named by Nicolas Maduro. I add him to the list of other people who have criticized me over the years. I don’t wish him any ill will. I tweeted some weeks ago I hope his future consists of living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela.” the former United Nations ambassador said.
Bolton said that despite the fact that much of the top-ranking military officials are still on Maduro’s side, “many of them are talking as well.”
“We’ll see what happens,” Bolton said.
