Trump warns Venezuela is ‘collapsing’

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From left: National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster, Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos, US Vice President Mike Pence, US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, take their seats with others for a dinner with Latin American and US leaders at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 18, 2017 in New York City. / AFP / Brendan Smialowski/

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump warned Monday that Venezuela is “collapsing,” suggesting the United States may take additional steps to restore democracy.

Trump told Latin American allies gathered on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly that President Nicolas “Maduro defied his own people” and was guilty of “disastrous rule” that may necessitate further punitive measures.

“The Venezuelan people are starving. Their country is collapsing,” he said.

Washington has already slapped sanctions the crisis-stricken country and Trump warned on August 11 that the United States was mulling a range of options against Venezuela, “including a possible military option if necessary.”

Trump did not repeat that warning, but said the United States was prepared to take further action, without offering details.

“Their democratic institutions are being destroyed,” he said. “Our goal must be to help them and restore their democracy.”

The meeting was attended by Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos, Brazil’s Michel Temer, Panama’s Juan Carlos Varela and Argentina’s vice president Gabriela Michetti.

© Agence France-Presse