Venezuela’s Maduro says US aid is a Trojan horse

Caracas remained defiant at a blockaded border crossing with Colombia on Friday (February 08), with soldiers on guard to stop US humanitarian aid from entering the country.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday balked at the US-backed humanitarian aid that is being stockpiled in the Colombian border city of Cucuta for his country, saying Venezuelans are not "beggars."

For supporters of the government, the aid is seen as a "Trojan horse" from Washington.

A day after the aid convoy arrived in the border city of Cucuta, President Nicolas Maduro ridiculed the United States for offering small amounts of assistance while maintaining sanctions that block some $10 billion of offshore assets and revenue.

The Venezuelan President has launched a national petition drive against the US's policy on the OPEC nation.

Venezuela's dire situation has fuelled a political crisis that has peaked over the last month with Guaido invoking a constitutional provision to declare himself the legitimate, interim president.