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World/ Americas

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
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

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
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.

During the briefing, Bolton would not rule out use of US troops in Venezuela.

Asked whether Trump would consider getting the US military involved, Bolton replied: “The president has made it clear on this matter that all options are on the table.”

A handout photo shows the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro (centre) and Venezuelan Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino (right), during military exercises at Fort Paramacay, Venezuela, on Monday. Photo: EPA
A handout photo shows the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro (centre) and Venezuelan Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino (right), during military exercises at Fort Paramacay, Venezuela, on Monday. Photo: EPA

The US military’s Southern Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Washington on Monday urged Venezuela’s military to accept a “peaceful” transfer of power from embattled President Nicolas Maduro to Guaido.

“We also today call on the Venezuelan military and security forces to accept the peaceful, democratic and constitutional transfer of power,” Bolton said.

“To a certain extent, this has begun,” he said. “We’ve seen Venezuelan official and military personnel heeding this call,” he added, citing the example of the country’s military attaché to Washington who broke ranks with Maduro at the weekend.

The US also ramped up the pressure on Maduro with a raft of sanctions on state oil company PDVSA.

Venezuelan Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino, centre, gestures while speaking during a press conference with the nation’s the military high command in Caracas on Thursday. Photo: Bloomberg
Venezuelan Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino, centre, gestures while speaking during a press conference with the nation’s the military high command in Caracas on Thursday. Photo: Bloomberg

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the new sanctions would prevent Maduro from diverting more resources from the crisis-wracked country until control in Caracas could be transferred to an interim or new democratically-elected government.

“The purpose of sanctions is to change behaviour,” Mnuchin said. “So when there is a recognition that the company is the property of, the rightful rulers, the rightful leaders, then indeed that money will be available to Guaido.

Bolton’s notepad also had the line: “Afghanistan – welcome the talks”, a reference to a potential breakthrough in discussions with the Taliban.

Additional reporting by Tribune News Service