There weren鈥檛 many bipartisan moments in last week鈥檚 State of the Union address. Most Democratic legislators sat on their hands as President Trump hailed overall rising wages as well as record low unemployment for African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Hispanics. But in a move that testifies to the humanitarian and geopolitical concerns Venezuela presents, Democrats and Republicans rose together to applaud Juan Guaid贸, the president of Venezuela鈥檚 National Assembly, who is recognized as the country鈥檚 legitimate ruler by including the U.S.
Days after U.S. legislators applauded Mr. Guaid贸, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in Caracas, offering aid and comfort to the beleaguered government of Nicol谩s Maduro. The message seemed clear: Russia is prepared to stand up to the U.S., even in the Western Hemisphere, to protect its Venezuelan allies.
For the Trump administration鈥檚 foreign policy, the tangle with Russia over Venezuela is a local problem with global consequences. When I interviewed him recently, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo identified a short list of administration priorities for 2020. Real progress toward change in Venezuela and an improved relationship with Russia are both high on the list. With both Russiagate and Ukrainegate in the rearview mirror, it would appear that the administration has a new freedom to reach out diplomatically to the Kremlin鈥攂ut that hardly comports with the rock-star treatment given to Mr. Guaid贸 in Washington last week.
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