Thread by @BenjaminNorton

The US has effectively declared a coup in Venezuela. Trump recognized unelected right-wing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as new “president,” and the opposition has said very clearly that it plans mass privatization and neoliberal capitalist policies.
grayzoneproject.com/2019/01/23/us-…

Latin America's rightwing, US-allied countries joined Trump in endorsing this political coup in Venezuela.

The region's leftist govs—Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua—continue recognizing Venezuela's legitimate gov, along with Mexico's new leftwing President AMLO
grayzoneproject.com/2019/01/23/us-…

Bolivian President Evo Morales stands by Venezuela's legitimate gov, warning “the claws of imperialism again seek to fatally wound the democracy and self-determination of the peoples of South America,” adding, “No longer will we be the backyard of the US.”

https://twitter.com/evoespueblo/status/1088165336845815809

After the US endorsed a political coup, Venezuela's legitimate gov called for an expulsion of US diplomats within 72 hours (which is 100% within its authority under international law)

The US refused this order, illegally usurping Venezuela's sovereign gov

https://twitter.com/StratSentinel/status/1088205259971932160

It's very important to stress Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves. But it's equally important to point out it has been challenging the hegemony of the US dollar head on by publishing the price of its oil in China's currency, yuan
reuters.com/article/us-ven…
ht @LukeGromen

Make no mistake: The US is setting the stage for a civil war in Venezuela.

The US backed a political coup, is illegally defying orders from the legitimate gov., and is openly threatening "all options are on the table" — including military intervention.
channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-…

So-Called 'Trump Resistance' Mostly Silent as US President Openly Foments Coup d'Etat in Venezuela
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/2…

"There's a deafening silence from progressive Democrats on Venezuela. Democrats and Republicans may be diametrically opposed on domestic policy but they're cut from the same cloth when it comes to foreign policy"

*With the honorable exception of @RoKhanna
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/2…

"Adding to the horror of a coup in Venezuela, we are appalled that Trump has appointed himself dictator of world, empowered to decide who is president of a sovereign country"
-@MsJodieEvans of @codepink
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/2…