The bill seeks to counter what the senators, both sons of Cuban immigrants, consider the “harmful and malign influence” in Latin America of China and Russia, arguing that the “destabilizing” influence of authoritarian governments in Beijing and Moscow pose unique risks to U.S. national security interests as well as the region’s welfare. Full Text -> The Seattle Times

Traducción de cortesía -> El proyecto de ley busca contrarrestar lo que los senadores, ambos hijos de inmigrantes cubanos, consideran la “influencia dañina y maligna” en América Latina de China y Rusia, argumentando que la influencia “desestabilizadora” de los gobiernos autoritarios de Beijing y Moscú plantea riesgos únicos para EE.UU. los intereses de la seguridad nacional y el bienestar de la región. Traducción al español -> Google Translación

Enrique Castells, appointed by the interim government of Juan Guaidó to manage Venezuela’s mineral resources, revealed that Maduro tried to take 25 million euros of funds from the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) in Spain to Russia. By Sabrina Martín. Full Text -> PanamPost

Today (20 May) Security Council members are scheduled to hold an open videoconference (VTC) meeting on Venezuela. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is expected to brief.The meeting was requested by Russia. It appears to have been prompted by a letter that Venezuela sent to the Security Council on 13 May (S/2020/399) in which it alleges that there was an attempt by groups of mercenaries to infiltrate Venezuela between 3 and 4 May, with the aim of perpetrating criminal acts and assassinating high-level officials in the country. The letter claims involvement by Colombia and the United States in the alleged attempted infiltration, and asks the Security Council to hold discussions on the matter. Full Text -> What’s in Blue

The regime wants direct talks with the U.S. Washington should reject the offer. By James Stavridis. Full text-> Bloomberg