During the daily press briefing of the European Commission, a spokesperson for head of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini said: “We must avoid military intervention." The spokesperson added the European Union wants a “peaceful and democratic solution in Venezuela, which obviously excludes the use of force”. This follows a warning from Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell on Sunday, who insisted military intervention would not be welcomed.

He told the Efe Agency: “We categorically ruled out any support from the European Union or any acceptance of a military escalation in Venezuela. “We have warned clearly that we will not support and that we will strongly condemn any foreign military intervention.” This was a stance echoed by Brazil, which warned under no circumstances will it allow the United States to use its territory for a military operation into Venezuela. Brazilian Vice President Antonio Hamilton Mourao said the Lima Group, a bloc of nations from Argentina to Canada dedicated to a peaceful resolution of the Venezuela crisis, does not support military intervention.

He believes “it is necessary to look for other ways to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela”. Speaking to reporters during a meeting with the group in the Colombian capital Bogotá, Mr Mourao said: "No one in the Lima Group supports a military solution to the situation in Venezuela. "This requires the authorisation of the National Congress. The Brazilian government cannot do that without consultations with the Parliament. “The majority in the Government is against the use of Brazil’s territory by American troops.” On Sunday, violent clashes broke out on Venezuela’s border with Brazil in a row over foreign aid heading for the crisis-striken country, resulting in three people being shot dead and a further 300 injured.

Brazil branded violence used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government to block aid a “criminal act” and called on countries to join efforts to “liberate” the South American nation. Troops loyal to President Maduro had rejected supplies from Colombia on Saturday, using tear gas and rubber bullets to keep protestors at bay. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who most Western nations recognise as the country’s legitimate leader, said he would propose to the international community that all options remain open to oust President Maduro. He wrote on Twitter: "Today's events force me to make a decision: To formally propose to the International Community that we must have all options open to secure the freedom of our country, which fights and will keep fighting.” The US has imposed new sanctions on Mr Maduo and his Government, and called on allies to freeze the assets of its state-owned oil company PDVSA following the deadly violence at the weekend. </s> Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, speaks with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez during a meeting in Moscow on March 1, 2019

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Buenos Aires (AFP)

The Lima Group condemned Tuesday the presence of Russian military planes in Venezuela as a provocation threatening regional peace.

The 13 Latin American states and Canada said they were concerned "over the arrival of two Russian military aircraft" in Venezuela and condemned "any provocation or military deployment that threatens peace and security in the region."

The statement was issued by the foreign ministry of group member Argentina.

The body, set up in 2017 to advocate for a regional solution to Venezuela's political and economic crisis, also renewed a call to nations that still maintain friendly ties with "the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro" to help search for a democratic solution.

Russia, which recognizes Maduro as leader, sent two planes carrying 100 troops and tons of military equipment to Caracas on Saturday.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido charged that the deployment violates the constitution of the troubled South American country.

Russia's foreign ministry said the deployment was "in strict accordance with the constitution of that country and with full respect for its legal norms."

The Lima Group -- comprising Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Santa Lucia -- all recognize Guaido as interim president.

? 2019 AFP </s> MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd July, 2019) The ministers of foreign affairs of the Lima Group will hold the 15th meeting in the Argentinean capital on July 23.

The meeting will be focus on the situation in Venezuela and will be attended by representatives of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Peru, Canada, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Saint Lucia, as well as observers from Ecuador and, for the first time, El Salvador.

Colombia is expected to propose additional sanctions against Venezuela, as announced by Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo last week.

The Lima Group was created in 2017 to attempt settling the crisis in Venezuela. The group includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia. Most member states back opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, who is opposed by the incumbent president, Nicolas Maduro. </s> The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday sanctioned three governors of four Venezuelan states who are aligned with embattled President Nicolás Maduro. Those states are active in blocking humanitarian aid into the country.

“The United States does not like to use military force unless it is absolutely necessary. But military force is being used in Venezuela today,” former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, Otto Reich, told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney. “The Venezuelans are hungry and they are sick because of the policies of that government, which has become a military government.”

Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Bogota, Colombia where he met with Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó to discuss a possible use of military force to oust the country's disputed president.

Former Ambassador Reich said that the vice president will be meeting with the Lima Group, a multilateral body with representatives from 12 countries, to discuss what’s next for Venezuela.

“They’re all in agreement that the government of Venezuela, under Maduro, ended on the 10th of January, according to their own constitution. So Maduro is presiding over an illegitimate government.”

Reich added that the Secretary General of the Organization of American States has said Venezuela is under military occupation by a foreign country, Cuba.

“It’s the Cubans that are managing the repression in Venezuela. They’re giving the orders,” he said on “Varney & Co.” on Monday.

At least five people are dead after violent clashes on the border between Venezuela and Colombia after the Venezuelan military blocked aid from crossing into the country.

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Hundreds of people were injured when after Venezuela's National Guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters over the weekend, according to Colombia's Foreign Minister.

Pence told the Lima Group the United States will continue to stand with Guaidó until “freedom is restored” in Venezuela.
Through Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Faurie, the Lima Group say that "the use of force in Venezuela will be implemented when required".