Pompeo: 2 Million Refugees may flee Venezuela

In addition to the over 3 million Venezuelans who already fled in recent years to escape the economic and political crisis that has consumed the country, the U.S Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo predicts that 2 million additional refugees may flee seeking succour in other neighbouring countries

This week, much of the country has been without power, in a further sign of infrastructure collapse. Pompeo blamed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for the country’s economic problems and said the real sources of the crisis predate the sanctions Washington imposed this year.

The “Maduro decimation’’ was also leading to troubling signs of an uptick in narco-trafficking in the region, he added.

Pompeo said that the U.S. will support the Venezuelan people, but cautioned that the country’s road to recovery would be long.

Maduro has, however, repeatedly blamed Washington for Venezuela’s problems, including for the recent power blackouts which he said were caused by cyberattacks by the U.S. and the opposition (Juan Gauido).

The U.S. no longer views Maduro as the president of Venezuela and has switched its recognition to Juan Gauido, the self-declared interim president and opposition leader.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence was set to hold talks on Wednesday with Guaido’s wife, Fabiana Rosales de Guaido, who is being described as the “First Lady’’ of the country.