BOGOTA - Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido has met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Colombia's capital, as he tries to shore up international support amid a power struggle with President Nicolas Maduro.
The South American country, which is suffering an economic crisis, is a "failed state," Pompeo said on Monday, after meeting Guaido on the sidelines of a three-day counter-terrorism ministerial meeting in Bogota.
Guaido, recognised as the nation's legitimate president by more than 50 countries including the United States, defied a court order to travel abroad on Sunday.
"We are honoured by your presence," Colombian President Ivan Duque told the opposition leader on Monday during opening remarks. "You will always have a friend in Colombia."
Duque also met Pompeo before the start of the ministerial meeting to discuss a number of issues, including the situation in Venezuela.
"I would fully expect there will be further action that the US would take to continue to support President Guaido and the Venezuelan people," Pompeo told journalists.
"We do not talk about particular sanctions but everyone can fully expect that the US is not done," Pompeo warned, without specifying what action Washington will take.
From Colombia, Guaido is set to travel on to London, Brussels and Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum.
"We will have important meetings in Europe, in the European Union and specifically in Davos," Guaido told journalists.
Guaido would not confirm whether he will meet US President Donald Trump in Davos.
Meanwhile, Maduro's government, which is backed by Russia, China among others, dismissed Guaido's trip as "irrelevant."
"It's utterly irrelevant for us that a lackey has gone to meet his masters in Colombia," ruling Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado Cabello told a press conference in Caracas, referring to Guaido.
"He hasn't achieved anything he promised."
Maduro has branded Guaido a US puppet and says the US wants to invade Venezuela using the aid of Colombia and other countries.
According to analyst Carlos Pina, the opposition leader "is playing his last card."
"Currently Maduro and his government seem to be holding most of the [political and military] power in Venezuela," Pina said.
"With this trip, and with not much margin inside the country, what Guaido is trying to do is to increase the international pressure and the support of his [international] allies," he added.(FA)
