'Not considering strikes on Venezuela'

U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS

- Agencies

A US Navy warship, departs the Port of Spain on Thursday. The US warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on October 26 for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, as Washington ratcheted up pressure on drug traffickers and Nicolas Maduro.

(AFP)

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he is not considering strikes on Venezuela, even as new reports said the South American country has launched urgent appeals to Russia, China and Iran for military assistance in response to mounting American pressure.

"No," Trump told a journalist aboard Air Force One when asked about reports he was considering such strikes.

Internal US government documents obtained by The Washington Post show Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has reached out to multiple adversaries of Washington for help, sending letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping this month requesting military cooperation and equipment.