Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has made explosive allegations against the United States government, claiming to have foiled a CIA-orchestrated "false flag" operation intended to justify military intervention in the South American nation.
In a dramatic televised address, Maduro asserted that his intelligence agencies had uncovered a plot where operatives would stage an attack from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, creating a pretext for US forces to move against his administration.
The Alleged Conspiracy
According to Maduro's account, the planned operation involved individuals entering Venezuela through the western region of Zulia to carry out attacks on military installations. "They were going to simulate an attack from Trinidad and Tobago as a false flag to then blame Venezuela and justify a military aggression," the Venezuelan leader stated during his broadcast.
Maduro specifically named what he described as "CIA centres" in Trinidad that he claimed were coordinating the alleged plot. He provided no concrete evidence to support these assertions but insisted the information came from "very important sources."
Regional Implications
The allegations come amid ongoing tensions between Venezuela and the United States, which has imposed numerous sanctions against Maduro's government and recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's legitimate president in 2019.
Trinidad and Tobago, located just seven miles off Venezuela's coast, has maintained diplomatic relations with Caracas despite pressure from Washington. The Caribbean nation has also become a significant transit point for Venezuelan migrants fleeing their country's economic collapse.
Regional analysts suggest these accusations represent Maduro's continued strategy of portraying external threats to consolidate domestic support, particularly as Venezuela prepares for upcoming elections.
International Response
Neither US officials nor Trinidad and Tobago's government had issued immediate responses to Maduro's allegations at the time of reporting. Historically, Washington has dismissed similar claims from Caracas as baseless propaganda designed to distract from Venezuela's internal crises.
The Venezuelan opposition has frequently accused Maduro of fabricating conspiracy theories to justify political repression and maintain his grip on power amid the country's profound economic and humanitarian challenges.
This latest development further complicates the delicate diplomatic landscape in the Caribbean basin, where several nations have struggled to balance relations with both Venezuela and the United States.
