BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is pledging to support allies in South America as they respond to the crisis in Venezuela.

In remarks Wednesday in Brazil, Pompeo said he and Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo discussed their “deep desire to return democracy” to Venezuela.

Later in Colombia, Pompeo said he discussed with President Ivan Duque how their nations might collaborate to help people in Venezuela while also responding to the flood of migrants fleeing that country’s economic collapse, though he provided few details on what was discussed.

Pompeo’s remarks drew a rebuke from Venezuela’s foreign ministry, which issued a statement accusing the secretary of having an “interventionist attitude.”

Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have increasingly soured as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration for a contested new term approaches.

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