US security chief John Bolton’s notepad says ‘5,000 troops to Colombia’, hinting at secret US military option for Venezuela

The handwritten note by US National Security Adviser John Bolton was seen at a press conference for White House reporters

Bolton refused to rule out a US military option amid political upheaval in Venezuela, where Washington recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as president

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US National Security Adviser John Bolton holds his notes during a press briefing at the White House on Monday. The note “5,000 troops to Colombia” hints at a possible US troop deployment amid the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. Photo: AP

Published: 11:08am, 29 Jan 2019Updated: 8:50pm, 29 Jan 2019

A secret option for the deployment of thousands of US troops in South America amid Venezuela’s political upheaval appears to have been accidentally leaked by US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was photographed holding a notepad with the handwritten line: “5,000 troops to Colombia”.

Bolton spoke to White House reporters while holding the yellow notepad and discussing the crisis in Venezuela, where the US now recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.

It was not until after the briefing that observers noticed the black scrawl.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a US official said “we are not seeing anything that would support” a potential troop deployment to Colombia, which neighbours Venezuela.

Another look at US National Security Adviser John Bolton, as he holds his notes during a press briefing at the White House on Monday. The note “5,000 troops to Colombia” hints at a possible US troop deployment amid the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. Photo: AP

The Pentagon referred a query back to the White House.