Puerto Rico governor calls on Trump over Venezuela’s threat to security

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By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

Puerto Rico’s governor is urging swift action from President-elect Donald Trump after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called for the “liberation” of the U.S. territory. Governor Jenniffer González-Colón described Maduro’s comments as a direct threat to U.S. sovereignty and security.

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In a letter to Trump, González emphasized Puerto Rico’s strategic role, highlighting key military installations like Fort Buchanan and Muñiz Air National Guard Base, as well as U.S. Coast Guard and Customs operations that combat regional drug trafficking. She warned that Maduro’s remarks, made during an event in Caracas, could signal broader attempts to undermine U.S. influence in the region.

Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro called for an invasion of Puerto Rico, an open threat to the United States and our national security. I sent a letter to President @realDonaldTrump, trusting his administration will swiftly respond and make clear to the Maduro narco-regime that… pic.twitter.com/fmq32X793n
— Jenniffer González (@Jenniffer) January 13, 2025

Maduro, recently sworn in for a disputed third term amid allegations of election fraud, claimed Puerto Rico’s “liberation” would involve Brazilian military support. His remarks come as he faces international condemnation, with the U.S. offering a $25 million reward for his arrest.

The United States and other governments recognize opposition leader Edmundo González as the legitimate winner of Venezuela’s July election.

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González noted Puerto Rico’s long-standing rejection of independence, pointing to a 2024 nonbinding referendum where 57 percent of voters supported statehood. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory since 1898, has held U.S. citizenship since 1917, but residents cannot vote in general elections or elect voting members to Congress. Any change to its status requires congressional approval.

Experts dismissed Maduro’s statements as political rhetoric. Analysts note that Puerto Rico’s electorate has consistently supported closer ties with the U.S., and the likelihood of an invasion is considered implausible. Observers also view Maduro’s comments as an attempt to distract from his domestic challenges and international isolation.

The Biden administration, which remains in office until Jan. 20, has maintained sanctions on Maduro’s regime and supported Venezuela’s opposition. As Trump prepares to take office, questions remain about how his administration will approach U.S. relations with Venezuela and Puerto Rico’s statehood ambitions.

González has called for strong leadership to reaffirm U.S. support for its territories and counter Maduro’s efforts to destabilize the region. Analysts caution that failing to support Venezuela’s opposition could strengthen Maduro’s grip on power.

Tags: 2024 Elections, Brazil, Donald Trump, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

[ryan robertson]

MOVE OVER GREENLAND AND CANADA— PUERTO RICO MAY BE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR STATEHOOD
AS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP PREPARES TO TAKE OFFICE,
VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLÁS MADURO IS CALLING FOR PUERTO RICO’S “LIBERATION,” DRAWING ALARM FROM U.S. OFFICIALS.
PUERTO RICO’S GOVERNOR, JENNIFFER GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN, IS URGING SWIFT ACTION, DESCRIBING MADURO’S REMARKS AS A DIRECT THREAT TO U.S. SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY.

IN A LETTER TO MR. TRUMP, GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN HIGHLIGHTED THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PUERTO RICO, CITING ITS MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, LIKEFORT BUCHANAN AND THE MUÑIZ AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE,THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAYS THE ISLANDS ROLE IN COMBATING DRUG TRAFFICKING THROUGH U.S. COAST GUARD AND CUSTOMS OPERATIONS IS VITAL. SHE SAYS PUERTO RICANS ALSO CONSISTENTLY REJECT INDEPENDENCE, WITH A MAJORITY VOTING FOR STATEHOOD IN A RECENT REFERENDUM.

PUERTO RICO BECAME A U.S. TERRITORY IN 1898, WITH RESIDENTS GAINING CITIZENSHIP IN 1917. HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT VOTE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS OR HAVE VOTING REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.
IN A NOVEMBER REFERENDUM, 57 PERCENT OF PUERTO RICANS FAVORED STATEHOOD, BUT ANY CHANGE TO THE ISLAND’S STATUS REQUIRES CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

MADURO MADE HIS COMMENTS DURING AN EVENT IN CARACAS, WHERE HE ALSO REFERENCED SUPPORT FROM BRAZIL IN LIBERATING PUERTO RICO. THE VENEZUELAN LEADER WAS RECENTLY SWORN IN FOR A DISPUTED THIRD TERM AMID ALLEGATIONS OF ELECTION FRAUD AND FACES WIDESPREAD CONDEMNATION.

THE U.S. AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS BACK POLITICAL OPPONENT EDMUNDO GONZÁLEZ AS THE LEGITIMATE WINNER OF VENEZUELA’S ELECTION AND IMPOSED SANCTIONS ON MADURO’S REGIME, OFFERING A $25 MILLION BOUNTY FOR HIS ARREST.

EXPERTS DISMISSED MADURO’S STATEMENTS AS POLITICAL RHETORIC, NOTING PUERTO RICO’S ELECTORATE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTS MAINTAINING TIES WITH THE U.S.
OF COURSE, MOST ANALYSTS CONSIDER THE PROSPECT OF A VENESUELEN INVASION IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY, WHICH IS WHY MOST REGIONAL POWERS AREN’T TAKING THE THREAT SERIOUSLY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MAINTAINS SANCTIONS ON MADURO AND ALSO SUPPORTS VENEZUELA’S OPPOSITION LEADER. AS PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ASSUMES OFFICE, THERE ARE STILL SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL NAVIGATE U.S. RELATIONS WITH VENEZUELA, PUERTO RICO’S STATEHOOD AMBITIONS, AND MADURO’S PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS.

GOVERNOR GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN CALLED ON TRUMP TO REAFFIRM U.S. SUPPORT FOR ITS TERRITORIES AND COUNTER MADURO’S ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE REGIONAL STABILITY–BECAUSE AS ANALYSTS WARN– LOSING MOMENTUM IN SUPPORTING VENEZUELA’S OPPOSITION COULD FURTHER ENTRENCH MADURO’S REGIME.

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