THE WORLD was stunned when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reported that Elliott Abrams, retired US State Department veteran, was to be appointed Special Envoy to assist himself, John Bolton, and the Trump administration’s efforts at regime change in Venezuela.

The appointment takes place in a context of fierce resistance by the Bolivarian government and people to defend the nation’s sovereignty in the face of thus far the nastiest US assault yet on Venezuela.

The Chavista movement remains strongly united and highly mobilised; the armed forces, despite repeated appeals by Marco Rubio, Rex Tillerson, et al, continue to be staunchly loyal to the president and the constitution; the extreme right mobilisations to support Juan Guaido, the self-proclaimed “interim president,” have been unimpressive; and, more importantly, Pompeo’s efforts to obtain resolutions recognising Guaido at both the Organisation of American States and the UN security council were soundly defeated. Even the Lima Group of right-wing governments has issued a statement against US military attack on Venezuela.