Maduro shuts Venezuela’s border with Brazil amid political crisis, aid stand off

Embattled President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro has closed his country’s border with Brazil amid heightening political crisis and a stand off over aid supply.

The desperate leader said the border will be closed until further notice and described the move by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to deploy aid caravans as a ‘provocation.

Maduro said he was also considering a “total closure of the border with Colombia” where he has already ordered the military to barricade a major border bridge to prevent aid from entering the country from Cucuta, Colombia.

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In a televised address, Maduro called the aid a “provocation” and “child’s game”, suggesting the aid is a precursor for a US military intervention in the oil-rich, but economically crippled Latin American country.

“[The US] aimed to generate a huge national mess, but they didn’t succeed. The country wants peace,” he said, surrounded by members of the military.

Reports say Gaido is making moves to lead an attempt to bring in US aid into in defiance of Maduro’s government order.

Reports say Guaido seeks to move to the border with Colombia in a caravan with fellow members of the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

The opposition leader has reportedly set Saturday as the deadline for bringing in the aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Colombia- a move which will likely force a showdown with Maduro.

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