During an interview on “FOX News Sunday,” CIA Director Mike Pompeo explained to host Chris Wallace why the deteriorating situation in Venezuela is important to U.S. national security.

He said during his seven months on the job, he has seen Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro assert more power, and inflict more pain on the people. He said President Donald Trump’s message to the Venezuelan people on Saturday was meant to give them hope and to provide an opportunity to create a situation where democracy can be restored:

The intelligence makes very, very clear that the Maduro regime continues to put snipers in towers and do things that are horrible, repressive and the American policy is to work with our Latin American partners to try and restore democracy to that important country.

Wallace asked if that meant military action, and wondered why Venezuela should matter to the American people. Pompeo responded:

Venezuela could very much become a risk to the United States of America. The Cubans are there. The Russians are there. The Iranians, Hezbollah are there.

This is — this is something that has a risk of getting to a very, very bad place. And so, America needs to take this very seriously.

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