RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/VENEZUELA: “The Trump administration is tumbling into a proxy battle with Russia over Venezuela, the latest international standoff that threatens a return to the tense Cold War years. The two sides traded barbed accusations this week after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó called on the public and the military to rise up and oust autocrat Nicolás Maduro. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened military action and accused Russia of persuading Maduro to cling to office instead of fleeing to Cuba amid growing street protests. Russia, in turn, chided Pompeo for spreading ‘fakes’ as part of an ‘information war.’ The disagreement spilled into a phone call Wednesday between the two countries’ top diplomats — a U.S. description shows Pompeo chastising Russia for its ‘destabilizing’ behavior, while the Kremlin’s recounting details its foreign minister blasting America’s actions as ‘the rudest violation of international law.’ The face-off, which also involves Cuba backing Maduro, is a potentially explosive confrontation between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin as the president heads into his reelection bid.”
–Nahal Toosi, “Venezuela becomes Trump’s latest proxy battle with Russia,” Politico, May 1, 2019 7:33 pm