国际英语资讯:Maduro vows to defend Venezuela as countries reiterate support_时事

国际英语资讯:Maduro vows to defend Venezuela as countries reiterate support

Their remarks were made amid an aid standoff in which the United States and other countries in the region, in coordination with the Venezuelan opposition, declared a plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela, which was rejected by the Venezuelan government, fearing that it might be the first step toward a foreign invasion.

Maduro announced severance of relations with Colombia on Saturday, asking its embassy staff to "leave within 24 hours."

Three bridges serves as the most important border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia were closed a day before.

Venezuela also sealed off the country's border with Brazil and suspended aerial and maritime communications with the neighboring islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official said that the United States and its allies could upgrade sanctions on Venezuela if the aid is not allowed to pass.

The White House said Thursday that the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Colombia on behalf of President Donald Trump on Monday to voice support for Guaido.

Pence will attend a meeting of the Lima Group in Colombia where members will discuss the situation in Venezuela. The Lima Group, comprised of 13 Latin American countries and Canada, is a multilateral body established in August 2017 to focus on Venezuela's situation.

Some members of the group recognized Guaido as the country's rightful interim president. The opposition leader declared himself the "interim president" on Jan. 23 and was immediately recognized by Washington.