Ecuadorean Foreign Minister: The U.S. is the Real Threat, Not Venezuela

Watch the full interview with Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño on Democracy Now!The Obama administration is facing criticism across Latin America for leveling new sanctions against Venezuela and declaring the country an "unusual and extraordinary threat to national security." On Thursday, U.S. policy in Venezuela was questioned during a meeting of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. Representatives from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and other nations all criticized the U.S. approach. Ricardo Patiño took part in the Organization of American States meeting yesterday, and Ecuador has offered to mediate dialogue between the United States and Venezuela.

RICARDO PATIÑO: [translated] "It makes no sense whatsoever to think that Venezuela constitutes a threat to the United States. If there is a country that is a threat in the Americas, it’s the United States, because it has permanently invaded countries, societies in Latin America. It has created coups d’état. It has invaded countries, such as Grenada, the Dominican Republic, Panama. And it promoted dictatorships. Venezuela doesn’t have the minimal material possibility to constitute a threat to the United States, nor does it wish to be in that position. We have no desire or possibility to be a threat to the United States. What we want is to live in peace and to ask the government of the United States to let Latin America live in peace and democracy, as is happening at this time."

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