In a revelation that sends shockwaves through the diplomatic world, former US President Donald Trump allegedly inquired about the feasibility of a stunning covert operation against Venezuela. According to excerpts from a forthcoming book by journalist Alan MacLeod, Trump reportedly asked his advisers if the US could secretly attack its own boats and falsely blame the Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro.
The alleged goal of this false flag operation was to create a manufactured pretext for a military invasion, a move that would have dramatically escalated tensions in Latin America. The plan, as reported, was modelled after historical precedents where nations fabricated incidents to justify going to war.
A Pattern of Aggressive Rhetoric
This alleged plot is not an isolated incident but fits into a well-documented pattern of the Trump administration's aggressive posture towards Caracas. The book details how Trump's team, including key figures like John Bolton and Elliott Abrams, repeatedly pushed for regime change in Venezuela, exploring options from sanctions and support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó to more extreme military solutions.
MacLeod's reporting suggests that while the more extreme proposals were ultimately shelved, the very fact they were discussed at the highest levels of the White House reveals the lengths to which the administration was willing to go to oust Maduro.
Diplomatic Repercussions and Current Relations
The fallout from this era continues to shape US-Venezuela relations today. The Biden administration has taken a different tack, opting for a strategy of cautious engagement that includes offering sanctions relief in exchange for democratic reforms. However, trust remains in short supply.
This explosive allegation from Trump's presidency is sure to reignite debates about the ethics of foreign intervention, the limits of presidential power, and the long shadow cast by previous US-led regime changes in other parts of the globe.
