U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met with opposition leader Luis Abri, head of the National Assembly of Venezuela, in Colombia. After this meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement threatening Venezuela with increased sanctions in case of refusal to accept its deported citizens from the United States. "Let's be honest: if you don't want to take back your citizens, we can increase our actions," Pompeo emphasized. These statements were made after a meeting in Colombia, attended by Mike Pence, Luis Abri, and the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque. Important issues were also discussed at the meeting, including illegal drug trafficking and the influence of Cuba in the region. It should be noted that tensions between Venezuela and the United States have been sustained over a prolonged period, and this statement was merely another step in the escalating confrontation between the parties.
