The Trump administration suggested Thursday that Venezuela strongman Nicolas Maduro should leave the country and live in Cuba, Russia, or elsewhere to help speed up Venezuela’s transition to democracy.
“I think it is better for the transition to democracy in Venezuela that he be outside the country,” special representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters. “And there are a number of countries that I think would be willing to accept him.”
“He’s got friends in places like Cuba and Russia,” Abrams added. “And there are some other countries, actually, that have come to us privately and said they’d be willing to take members of the current illegitimate regime if it would help the transition.”
When asked if he would name those countries, Abrams said, “No.”
The U.S. and several other countries no longer recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s president and instead recognize National Assembly President Juan Guaido.
“The end game for him should be to leave power, and the sooner the better,” Abrams said. “Because his own situation is only going to decline the longer he clings to power and the more misery there is in Venezuela.”
Last week, national security adviser John Bolton said he hopes Maduro and his top officials end up on a “nice beach somewhere.”
[Related: Hillary Clinton optimistic about peaceful ouster of Maduro]
I wish Nicolas Maduro and his top advisors a long, quiet retirement, living on a nice beach somewhere far from Venezuela. They should take advantage of President Guaido’s amnesty and move on. The sooner the better.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 31, 2019
