Trump administration met, and rebuffed, Venezuela military coup plotters, report says

A month before the August attack against the Venezuelan president, Donald Trump was considering an array of options, including military action, to end a crisis in Venezuela

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C), his wife, Cilia Flores, left, and military officers reacting to a loud bang at a ceremony on August 4. Officials from US President Donald Trump's administration met secretly with Venezuelan military officers to discuss plans to oust Maduro but reportedly decided not to help. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:09am, 9 Sep 2018Updated: 7:09am, 9 Sep 2018

The US held at least three meetings with Venezuelan military officers before deciding not to help them overthrow President Nicolas Maduro, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing unidentified US officials and a former Venezuelan military commander who took part in the talks.

In the end, no joint operation was ever proposed between US and coup plotters, a former Venezuelan commander told the paper.

In July, a personal familiar with the matter said President Trump was considering an array of options, including military action, to bring an end to the long-running crisis in Venezuela.

Maduro making his speech before the drone attack against him in August. Photo: AFP

Associated Press also reported in July that Trump had pressed aides on the possibility of invading Venezuela during a meeting in the Oval Office in August 2017.

Maduro in August escaped unharmed in an attack by explosive-laden drones that wounded officers and sent soldiers scurrying during a military parade in Caracas. The country’s security forces subsequently made a wave of arrests.