What is Baku�s position on Venezuela?

Global support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido expanded this week as a growing chorus of Western nations led by the U.S. increased pressure on the authoritarian regime of cash-strapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

So far, Maduro has resisted international diplomatic pressure, major sanctions, and he doesn"t appear to be going anywhere.

"These regimes all look very stable until the day that they fall," U.S. special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters yesterday at the Washington Foreign Press Center, expressing confidence that the Maduro regime "will collapse in time."

Asked whether the U.S. administration was concerned that only 54 countries - there are 193 U.N. member-states - have publicly backed Mr. Guaido, Abrams outlined the significant differences between late last year and now. In response to TURAN's U.S. correspondent's questions, the special envoy also indicated that there are just very few countries that "you could say support Maduro," naming Russia, China, Cuba and Nicaragua - and noting that none are democracies.

The diplomat refrained from commenting on the South Caucasus, where Georgia appears to be the only country that has so far recognized Guaido.

Early last month, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met with Carlos Alfredo Vecchio, Guaido's representative in the U.S., during his trip to Washington.

Azerbaijan, however, this week raised international eyebrows by welcoming Maduro's newly appointed ambassador to Baku.

Christopher Alberto Martinez Berroteran presented his credential to President Ilham Aliyev on March 3rd, according to Azerbaijan's state-run news agency Azertag.

Back in Washington, officials believe that Maduro regime"s days were numbered and that treating it as illegitimate - along with sanctioning its top officials, and sending aid despite a blockade - will hasten its demise and speed the transition to democratic governance.

"My experience with regimes, not only in Latin America but really all around the world, is we don"t have much skill at predicting when they"re going to fall," Abrams said.

Regarding the countries that have not yet joined the U.S. in recognizing Guaido as interim president, Abrams told TURAN's correspondent that their failing to do so did not necessarily place them in the Maduro camp. There were other factors involved as well. "Other countries have different reasons for not taking a position, including concerns about debts owed to the regime, or the safety of their citizens in Venezuela.I don"t think any of it represents any particular enthusiasm for, or endorsement of, the Maduro regime," he added.

Asked whether Washington would be open to the prospect of Maduro running again for president, when new elections are held, the special representative said that was "ultimately a decision for Venezuelans to make" but that it was difficult to see how he could "play a positive role."

"It"s very hard for me to see how a dictator such as Maduro, who has committed so many crimes against the people of Venezuela, who is so deeply responsible for the human rights violations, for the decline in Venezuela"s economic situation, can really have a role to play in the building of a democratic Venezuela."

On Wednesday the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced that the State Department will revoke 77 visas held by Maduro"s officials and their families.

The move brings to more than 250 the number of Venezuelans targeted by US visa bans.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.