Tensions Continue To Rise In Venezuela

It’s getting really bad in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro is doing his best to keep foreign aid out of the country.

Soldiers from the Venezuelan national guard have left their posts ahead of an opposition-led effort to bring aid into the country, Colombia’s migration agency said.

In a separate development, Venezuelan troops have fired tear gas at people looking to cross into Colombia to work.

Tensions have been rising over a row about the delivery of humanitarian aid.

President Nicolás Maduro said the border with Colombia is partly closed to stop aid being delivered.

#Brazil has deployed it’s army along border with #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/WEnfRz1pwZ

— Strategic Sentinel (@StratSentinel) February 23, 2019

Sen. Marco Rubio has providing a ton of updates on Twitter.

Moments ago an armored vehicle of Natl Guard of #Venezuela rammed one of the obstacles placed by the regime to block humanitarian aid from entering from Colombia. Earlier 3 guard members defected. https://t.co/OP2GhpYidz

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

A fourth #Venezuela national guard member, a sgt, abandoned guard post at a crossing in #Santander #23F #23FAyudaHumanitaria

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

UPDATE: There are 4 #Venezuela National Guard officials who defected from the Maduro regime on the Simón Bolívar International Bridge. See video with more on the way. https://t.co/fyeAP4xOvz

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

DEVELOPING: #Venezuelan civilians begin removing obstacles placed by #MaduroRegime to block humanitarian aid across Simón Bolívar International Bridge.

Moments later,4 National Guard members came towards crowd in armored vehicles & then abandoned post & ran across border #23F https://t.co/qT5H1YYIWV

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

DEVELOPING: While 4 guards abandoned post on #Venezuela side of border in Ureña, Táchira civilians are confronting National Guard which is responding with tear gas. #23FAvalanchaHumanitaria https://t.co/R8YRs5R6OH

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

DEVELOPING: We are receiving intercepted transmissions of Cuban agents present & directing repressive actions in Ureña. #23Feb https://t.co/kLfpBYpQQ4

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

UPDATE: Here is the moment when 3 Natl Guard members approach border in armored vehicle, abandon vehicle & cross over to place themselves under the command of @jguaido #23FAvalanchaHumanitaria https://t.co/iehOuBSo0H

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

UPDATE: Natl Guard officer who minutes ago crossed border to place himself under the command of @jguaido exhorts his companions to lay down arms "We are millions against 30 or 40 of them" he says. Expects more officials to join today #23Feb https://t.co/7pLDF1eW3p

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

UPDATE: Seeing several moves by #MaduroRegime now:
– Pro-Regime gangs replacing National Guard at several border crossings;
– Young female national police officers replacing National Guard at front line at other points #23FAvalanchaHumanitaria

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 23, 2019

We’ll keep you posted…